cuchara sopera
/kut͡ʃaɾa sopeɾa/from spelling rules
The English word "tablespoon" is cuchara sopera in Spanish.
cuchara sopera is used to denote a tablespoon as a unit of measure.
Meaning: a unit of measure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of cuchara (spoon) and sopera (relating to soup).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dominican Republic, the word cucharón is sometimes used to denote a larger spoonful or a tablespoon.
How do you pronounce it?
/kutʃaɾa sopeɾa/
Did you know?
- The word cuchara shares a common ancestor with the English word 'shell', as the Latin 'cochlea' refers to both a snail shell and a spoon.
- Beyond being a measure, sopera is the specific name for a 'soup tureen', the large decorative bowl used to serve soup at a dining table.
- While the English word 'tablespoon' is standard, Spanish households often strictly differentiate the cuchara sopera from the cuchara de postre, a specific dessert spoon that is smaller than a tablespoon but larger than a teaspoon.
Examples in context
- Añade una cucharada de azúcar a la mezcla.Add one tablespoon of sugar to the mix.
- Agrega dos cucharadas grandes de aceite de oliva a la sartén.Add two tablespoons of olive oil to the pan.
- Añade una cuchara sopera de azúcar.Add one tablespoon of sugar.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are baking a cake together.
- María¿Cuánta mantequilla lleva el pastel, Alejandro?How much butter does the cake take, Alejandro?
- AlejandroLleva una cuchara sopera de mantequilla.It takes one tablespoon of butter.
- MaríaEstá bien, yo la pongo ahora.Alright, I'll put it in now.
- AlejandroGracias, María.Thank you, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuchara, sopera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
