Spanish · Food & Drink

"Spoon" in Spanish: cuchara

la cuchara

Say it: koo-CHAH-rahfeminine · la cucharanoun/kuˈtʃa.ɾa/

A spoon is la cuchara (koo-CHAH-rah), a feminine noun: una cuchara grande. A teaspoon is often una cucharita; do not confuse cuchara with cuchillo (knife).

Eating soup

Necesito una cuchara para la sopa.
I need a spoon for the soup.
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How to pronounce cuchara

Say it

koo-CHAH-rah

/kuˈtʃa.ɾa/

koo-CHAH-rah, stress on CHAH. The ch is like "cha" in "chocolate". Keep the final rah clear—do not swallow it.

"Spoon" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
la cucharaspoon

Default table spoon.

la cucharitateaspoon; little spoon

Coffee, tea, and desserts.

la cuchara de sopasoup spoon

Larger spoon for soup.

una cucharadaa spoonful

Recipe measure.

How to use cuchara in real life

  1. 1Eating soup

    Necesito una cuchara para la sopa.

    I need a spoon for the soup.

    Soup almost always needs a cuchara.

  2. 2At the table

    ¿Me pasas la cuchara, por favor?

    Can you pass me the spoon, please?

    Pass the cuchara across the table.

  3. 3Stirring coffee

    ¿Hay una cuchara pequeña para el café?

    Is there a small spoon for the coffee?

    Cuchara pequeña works; cucharita is the everyday diminutive.

Mistakes English speakers make with cuchara

Incorrect: El cuchara está limpia.

Correct: La cuchara está limpia.

Cuchara is feminine: la cuchara.

Incorrect: Me falta un cuchillo para la sopa.

Correct: Me falta una cuchara para la sopa.

Soup needs cuchara (spoon), not cuchillo (knife).

Good to know

Cuchara is the spoon; cucharita is the small one for coffee. Learners mix cuchara with cuchillo because both start with cuchi-. Soup, stews, and many desserts need a cuchara.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Soup arrives without a spoon

  1. ChatPal

    Tu sopa necesita una cuchara.

    Your soup needs a spoon.

  2. You

    Es verdad. Pediré una cuchara.

    True. I'll ask for a spoon.

  3. ChatPal

    Disculpe, ¿nos trae otra cuchara?

    Excuse me, can you bring us another spoon?

  4. You

    Gracias.

    Thanks.

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"Spoon" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Spoon" in Spanish

Is cuchara masculine or feminine?

Feminine: la cuchara, una cuchara limpia.

What is a cucharita?

A little spoon (teaspoon), the diminutive of cuchara.

How is cuchara different from cuchillo?

Cuchara is spoon; cuchillo is knife.

How do you pronounce cuchara?

koo-CHAH-rah with stress on CHAH.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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