A shiny silver metal spoon resting on a clean, solid-colored surface.

cuchara

koo-CHAH-rah

nounfA1

spoon?general utensil for eating or serving

Also:tablespoon?when used to refer to the larger size of spoon,trowel?in the context of construction or masonry

📝 In Action

Necesito una cuchara para la sopa.

I need a spoon for the soup.

Revuelve el café con la cuchara pequeña.

Stir the coffee with the small spoon.

El albañil usa la cuchara para poner el cemento.

The bricklayer uses the trowel to apply the cement.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cubierto (piece of cutlery)

Common Collocations

cuchara de madera – wooden spoon
cuchara de postre – dessert spoon
cuchara de sopa – soup spoon

Idioms & Expressions

meter la cuchara – to interfere or interrupt a conversation without being asked

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Articles

This word is feminine, so you always use 'la' or 'una'. To make it plural, just add an 's': 'las cucharas'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Cuchara vs. Cucharada

Mistake: "Using 'cuchara' to mean 'spoonful'."

Correction: Use 'cucharada' for the amount of food that fits in a spoon, and 'cuchara' for the physical tool itself.

⭐ Usage Tips

Which spoon is which?

A standard 'cuchara' is usually the large soup spoon. If you want a teaspoon, it's more common to use the diminutive form 'cucharilla' or 'cuchara de té'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuchara

Question 1 of 2

If you are eating a bowl of cereal, which tool do you need?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cucharada(spoonful) - noun

cucharadita(teaspoonful) - noun

cucharilla(teaspoon) - noun

cucharear(to spoon (food)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cuchara' masculine or feminine?

It is feminine. You should say 'la cuchara' or 'una cuchara'.

How do you say 'teaspoon'?

The most common way is 'cucharilla' or 'cuchara de té'.