cucchiaio

Italian

Alternative forms

• cucchiaro

Etymology

From the Latin cochleārium, derived from cochlear, from cochlea (“snail”), which perhaps was an instrument used to eat eggs and snails. It's also possible that it derives from the use to which it was put, the concave shape, or perhaps originally it was made with the shell of a snail. Compare French cuillère.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kukˈkja.jo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ajo
• Hyphenation: cuc‧chià‧io

Noun

cucchiaio m (plural cucchiai, diminutive cucchiaiétto or (more common) cucchiaìno, augmentative cucchiaióne, pejorative cucchiaiàccio, derogatory cucchiaiùccio)

1. spoon; spoonful

   Questo cucchiaio è per il tè.

   This spoon is for tea.

2. tablespoon; tablespoonful
3. chip; in football

Derived terms

Derived terms

• cucchiaino
• cucchiaio da caffè
• cucchiaio da portata
• cucchiaio da tavola
• cucchiaio da tè

See also

• coltello
• forchetta