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)

spoon; spoonful
Questo cucchiaio è per il tè.
This spoon is for tea.
tablespoon; tablespoonful
chip; in football

Derived terms