soupspoon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, culinary, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “soupspoon” mean?
A spoon with a rounder, deeper bowl than a tablespoon, specifically designed for eating soup.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A spoon with a rounder, deeper bowl than a tablespoon, specifically designed for eating soup.
A unit of measure in cooking, equivalent to a tablespoon. Can also be used as a specific example of a utensil when discussing cutlery or dining etiquette.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology: While both use 'soupspoon', the more common term in the UK is simply 'soup spoon'. In the US, 'tablespoon' is often used to refer to the same utensil for eating soup, potentially causing ambiguity with the larger measuring spoon.
Connotations
In both, it connotes formal dining or home cooking. The British usage slightly emphasises traditional table setting.
Frequency
Higher frequency in British English, as 'tablespoon' dominates the equivalent dining context in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “soupspoon” in a Sentence
Use a [soupspoon] to eat [soup].Pass the [soupspoon].Add one [soupspoon] of oil.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in hospitality, catering, or manufacturing sectors (e.g., 'We supply silver soupspoons to hotels').
Academic
Very rare. Possible in historical or design studies of domestic objects.
Everyday
Common in contexts of cooking, dining, and setting the table.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and cutlery design specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “soupspoon”
- *He ate the cereal with a soupspoon. (Use 'teaspoon' or 'spoon' for cereal.)
- *Add two soupspoons of flour. (In recipes, 'tablespoon' (Tbsp) is the standard term for the measure; 'soupspoon' is ambiguous.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In a dining context, they are often the same implement. However, in cooking measurements, a 'tablespoon' (Tbsp) is a precise unit (approx. 15ml), while a 'soupspoon' is not a standard measure.
A soupspoon is larger and rounder. A dessertspoon is intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a soupspoon, used for desserts or cereal.
No, 'soupspoon' is not standardly used as a verb. You would say 'spoon the soup' or 'eat with a spoon'.
You can ask for 'soup spoons' or 'tablespoons' (for dining). To avoid confusion with measuring spoons, you might specify 'cutlery tablespoons' or 'spoons for eating soup'.
A spoon with a rounder, deeper bowl than a tablespoon, specifically designed for eating soup.
Soupspoon is usually neutral. common in everyday, culinary, and technical contexts. in register.
Soupspoon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsuːpspuːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsuːpspuːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the two O's in 'soup' as the round bowl of the spoon.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL FOR CONSUMPTION (of liquid food).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'soupspoon' LEAST likely to be used?