sprinkle
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral; common in everyday, culinary, and descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to scatter small drops or particles of a substance lightly over a surface.
To distribute or add something in small, scattered amounts; to appear or occur here and there; to rain lightly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a light, uneven, or casual distribution. Often used with substances like water, salt, glitter, or with abstract things like compliments or mentions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Sprinkle' is equally common in both varieties. The noun form 'sprinkling' (a small, scattered amount) is slightly more formal and equally used.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The verb can have a gentle, positive connotation (e.g., sprinkling kindness) or a mundane one (sprinkling salt).
Frequency
Very high frequency in both, especially in cooking and weather contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] sprinkle [NP] on/over [NP][NP] sprinkle [NP] with [NP][NP] sprinkle on/over [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sprinkle of stardust”
- “a sprinkle of rain”
- “sprinkle magic dust on something (to improve it)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing: 'sprinkle testimonials throughout the presentation'.
Academic
Rare. Used descriptively in geography/biology: 'Villages are sprinkled across the valley.'
Everyday
Very high. Cooking, gardening, weather: 'Sprinkle some salt on it.' 'It's just sprinkling outside.'
Technical
Low. Possibly in agriculture or manufacturing for precise distribution of materials.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your latte.
- We had just a sprinkle of rain earlier.
American English
- The cake needs a final sprinkle of colored sugar.
- There's a sprinkle of freckles across her nose.
verb
British English
- She'll sprinkle a bit of icing sugar over the pudding before serving.
- The forecast says it will just sprinkle this afternoon.
American English
- Sprinkle the grated cheese over the tacos.
- The gardener sprinkled water on the seedlings.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Sprinkle the seeds in the soil.
- It is sprinkling outside.
- Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the pasta before you serve it.
- His speech was sprinkled with humorous anecdotes.
- The report was carefully sprinkled with references to recent successes.
- A light sprinkle began to fall, darkening the pavement.
- The landscape was sprinkled with picturesque, abandoned farmhouses.
- Her authority is subtly sprinkled throughout the organization's decision-making processes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPRINKler system – it scatters water in small drops.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADDING SMALL AMOUNTS IS SPRINKLING (e.g., sprinkle facts into a story, sprinkle investments across sectors).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'spray' (распылять) which implies finer mist or force. 'Sprinkle' is gentler and for granular/particulate matter. The Russian 'посыпать' is a good equivalent for solids.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sprinkle' for pouring a liquid (use 'drizzle'). Confusing 'sprinkle on' vs 'sprinkle with' (sprinkle salt on eggs / sprinkle eggs with salt).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sprinkle' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be for liquids in very small, scattered drops (sprinkle water, a sprinkling of rain) but not for pouring streams of liquid.
'Sprinkle' often implies a lighter, more even, or deliberate action (often with small particles). 'Scatter' is more general and can be less controlled. 'Strew' is similar to scatter but can imply a more haphazard or covering distribution.
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'to sprinkle conversation with French phrases', 'a speech sprinkled with jokes'.
The main noun form is 'sprinkling' (a sprinkling of snow). The gerund 'sprinkling' is also used as a noun (The sprinkling of salt took a moment).