der Teelöffel
teaspoon
A small spoon typically used for stirring hot drinks such as tea or coffee, or for eating desserts.
EXAMPLE
Könntest du mir bitte einen Teelöffel für meinen Joghurt geben?
Could you please give me a teaspoon for my yogurt?
der Teelöffel
teaspoon
der Teelöffel, die Teelöffel
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Meanings
der Teelöffel
teaspoon
A unit of measurement in cooking, baking, or dosing medicine, corresponding to the amount that fits on such a spoon (about 5 milliliters).
EXAMPLE
Für den Kuchenteig fügen Sie bitte einen Teelöffel Backpulver hinzu.
For the cake batter, please add one teaspoon of baking powder.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Teelöffel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Teelöffel |
| genitive | des Teelöffels |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Teelöffel | die Teelöffel |
| accusative | den Teelöffel | die Teelöffel |
| dative | dem Teelöffel | den Teelöffeln |
| genitive | des Teelöffels | der Teelöffel |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is a simple compound made up of 'Tee' (tea) and 'Löffel' (spoon). So it originally describes a spoon intended for tea.
EXAMPLE
Er rührte den Zucker mit einem kleinen Teelöffel in seinem Kaffee um.
He stirred the sugar into his coffee with a small teaspoon.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context: If an ingredient follows (e.g. 'ein Teelöffel Zucker' — one teaspoon of sugar), the unit of measurement is meant. If it is about using or holding it, the piece of cutlery is meant.
EXAMPLE
Gib bitte einen Teelöffel Honig in den Tee.
Please put one teaspoon of honey into the tea.
Abbreviation
As a unit of measurement in recipes, 'Teelöffel' (teaspoon) is very often abbreviated as 'TL'. A level teaspoon is an exact amount; a heaped teaspoon is a larger amount.
EXAMPLE
Für das Rezept benötigen Sie 2 TL Paprikapulver.
For the recipe, you need 2 tsp paprika powder.
In real life
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