Portuguese · Food & Drink

"Spoon" in Portuguese: colher

a colher

Say it: ko-LYEHRfeminine · a colhernoun/ko.ˈʎeʁ/

A spoon in Portuguese is a colher. Ask for uma colher at the table, and colher de sopa for a tablespoon measure.

Soup lunch

Essa colher está grande demais para o café.
This spoon is too big for the coffee.
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How to pronounce colher

Say it

ko-LYEHR

/ko.ˈʎeʁ/

ko-LYEHR

"Spoon" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
a colherthe spoon

Default noun.

uma colhera spoon

Restaurant ask.

colher de sopatablespoon

Cooking measure.

colher de cháteaspoon

Smaller measure.

How to use colher in real life

  1. 1Soup lunch

    Essa colher está grande demais para o café.

    This spoon is too big for the coffee.

    Wrong utensil.

  2. 2Recipe call-out

    Adicione uma colher de mel na massa.

    Add a spoonful of honey to the batter.

    Cooking.

  3. 3Ice cream stand

    Tem colher para o sorvete aí?

    Is there a spoon for the ice cream there?

    Street food.

Mistakes English speakers make with colher

Incorrect: Me dá um cuchara.

Correct: Me dá uma colher.

Cuchara is Spanish; Portuguese is colher.

Incorrect: O colher caiu.

Correct: A colher caiu.

Colher is feminine.

Good to know

Recipes in Brazil swing between colher de sopa and colher de chá. At açaí shops, a plastic colher is assumed—ask only if they forgot to hand one over.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Sharing dessert

  1. ChatPal

    Cadê a outra colher?

    Where's the other spoon?

  2. You

    A colher extra está no guardanapo.

    The extra spoon is in the napkin.

  3. ChatPal

    Ótimo. Uma colher para cada um.

    Great. One spoon each.

  4. You

    Pode começar.

    You can start.

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"Spoon" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Spoon" in Portuguese

How do I ask for a spoon?

Uma colher, por favor.

Tablespoon?

Colher de sopa.

Teaspoon?

Colher de chá.

Gender?

Feminine—a colher.

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