cucchiaio

Italian

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/, [kukˈkjäːjo]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: cuc‧chià‧io

Noun

cucchiaio m (plural cucchiai)

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