der Esslöffel
tablespoon
A large spoon used mainly for eating soup or as serving cutlery.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte einen Esslöffel für die Suppe geben?
Can you please give me a tablespoon for the soup?
der Esslöffel
tablespoon
der Esslöffel, die Esslöffel
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Meanings
der Esslöffel
tablespoon
A unit of measurement in cooking recipes, corresponding to the amount that fits on a tablespoon (about 15 milliliters).
EXAMPLE
Fügen Sie zwei Esslöffel Zucker hinzu.
Add two tablespoons of sugar.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Esslöffel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Esslöffel |
| genitive | des Esslöffels |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Esslöffel | die Esslöffel |
| accusative | den Esslöffel | die Esslöffel |
| dative | dem Esslöffel | den Esslöffeln |
| genitive | des Esslöffels | der Esslöffel |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word "Esslöffel" is made up of the verb "essen" (to eat) and the noun "Löffel" (spoon). The "s" in between is a linking s that connects the two parts. So it is literally a spoon for eating.
EXAMPLE
Für die Gemüsesuppe brauchst du einen tiefen Teller und einen Esslöffel.
For the vegetable soup, you need a deep plate and a tablespoon.
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether the spoon is meant as a tool or as a unit of measurement. In recipes, often together with numbers and ingredients, it is a unit of measurement. In other situations, it is the piece of cutlery.
EXAMPLE
Für den Teig benötigen Sie drei Esslöffel Öl.
For the dough, you need three tablespoons of oil.
Abbreviation in recipes
In cookbooks and recipes, "Esslöffel" as a unit of measurement is almost always abbreviated as "EL". This saves space and is quick to read.
EXAMPLE
Geben Sie 2 EL Olivenöl in die Pfanne.
Put 2 tbsp olive oil into the pan.
Precise quantities
As a unit of measurement, a distinction is often made between a "gestrichenen Esslöffel" (level tablespoon) and a "gehäuften Esslöffel" (heaped tablespoon) in order to indicate the amount more precisely.
EXAMPLE
Für das Rezept braucht man einen gestrichenen Esslöffel Mehl.
For the recipe, you need one level tablespoon of flour.
In real life
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