teaspoon
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teaspoon
A small spoon typically used for stirring hot drinks such as tea or coffee, or for eating desserts.
Könntest du mir bitte einen Teelöffel für meinen Joghurt geben?
Could you please give me a teaspoon for my yogurt?
The word is a simple compound made up of 'Tee' (tea) and 'Löffel' (spoon). So it originally describes a spoon intended for tea.
Er rührte den Zucker mit einem kleinen Teelöffel in seinem Kaffee um.
He stirred the sugar into his coffee with a small teaspoon.
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.
Gib bitte einen Teelöffel Honig in den Tee.
Please put one teaspoon of honey into the tea.
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.
Für das Rezept benötigen Sie 2 TL Paprikapulver.
For the recipe, you need 2 tsp paprika powder.
spoon
'der Löffel' is the general word for this piece of cutlery. 'der Teelöffel' is a small spoon that is often used for tea, coffee, or desserts. In recipes or with medicine, 'Teelöffel' can also mean a small amount. The words are easy to confuse because a 'Teelöffel' is of course also a 'Löffel'. If the small size or an exact small amount is important, 'Teelöffel' fits better. Otherwise, you can say 'Löffel' in general.
Beim Frühstück rührt sie den Kaffee mit einem Teelöffel um.
At breakfast, she stirs her coffee with a teaspoon.
Meine Kollegin gibt mir einen Löffel für die Suppe.
My colleague gives me a spoon for the soup.