Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Spoon" in Spanish
Cuchara · noun · koo-CHAH-rah
Cuchara is the Spanish word for "spoon." It is a feminine noun, so you say la cuchara or una cuchara. Related words include cucharita and cucharilla (teaspoon), cucharón (ladle), and cucharada (spoonful, the measurement).
koo-CHAH-rah
¿Me pasas una cuchara para la sopa?
Can you pass me a spoon for the soup?
Spoon in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for spoon, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cuchara | spoon | koo-CHAH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| cucharita | spoon | teaspoon, diminutive — common in Latin America | |
| cucharilla | spoon | teaspoon — more common in Spain | |
| cucharón | spoon | ladle or large serving spoon |
How Native Speakers Use Cuchara
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Setting the table
Pon un tenedor, un cuchillo y una cuchara en cada lugar.
Put a fork, a knife, and a spoon at each place setting.
Cuchara sits alongside tenedor (fork) and cuchillo (knife) as basic cutlery vocabulary.
Asking for a smaller spoon
Necesito una cucharita para el postre.
I need a small spoon for dessert.
Cucharita (diminutive) is widely used in Latin America for teaspoons or dessert spoons.
Cooking with a ladle
Usa el cucharón para servir el caldo.
Use the ladle to serve the broth.
Cucharón (augmentative of cuchara) refers to a large serving spoon or ladle.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuchara
Wrong gender
Incorrect: Dame el cuchara grande.
Correct: Dame la cuchara grande.
Cuchara is feminine, so it takes the article la, not el.
Confusing cuchara with cuchilla
Incorrect: Revuelve la sopa con la cuchilla.
Correct: Revuelve la sopa con la cuchara.
Cuchilla means "blade" or "razor," not spoon. The words look similar but have very different meanings.
Lock in Spoon Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cuchara used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cuchara in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Me pasas una cuchara para la sopa? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Spoon in Spanish
- What is the difference between cucharita and cucharilla?
- Both mean "teaspoon" or "small spoon." Cucharita (diminutive with -ita) is more common in Latin America, while cucharilla is preferred in Spain. They are interchangeable in meaning.
- How do you say 'tablespoon' in Spanish?
- A tablespoon as a measurement is una cucharada. The physical spoon used for serving or eating is simply una cuchara or, if large, una cuchara sopera (soup spoon).
- Is cuchara masculine or feminine?
- Cuchara is feminine: la cuchara. Even though it ends in -a, which usually signals feminine in Spanish, it is worth confirming since some kitchen terms break that pattern.