Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
Published January 16, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The French Word of the Day is cuillère (f.), meaning “spoon.” This word appears on my list of the 25 most difficult French words to pronounce, so I thought it deserved its own lesson.
📘 Cuillère meaning in French
Cuillère (feminine noun) means “spoon” in French. It is a very common everyday noun used for eating, serving, and measuring food. You’ll also hear une cuillère à café (teaspoon) or une cuillère à soupe (tablespoon). Une cuillerée refers to a spoonful, as in une cuillerée de sucre (a spoonful of sugar).
🎧 Cuillère pronunciation in French
The pronunciation of cuillère is /kɥi.jɛʁ/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “kwee-YAIR.”
📝 Cuillère usage examples
Je mange la glace avec une cuillère.
I eat ice cream with a spoon.
Peux-tu me passer une cuillère, s’il te plaît ?
Can you pass me a spoon, please?
Il me faut une petite cuillère pour mon yaourt.
I need a tea spoon for my yogurt.
Tu veux une cuillère pour partager le dessert ?
Do you want a spoon to share the dessert?
One of the hardest parts about learning French is the pronunciation.
👉 See also: 25 Most Difficult French Words To Pronounce »
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- une petite cuillère — teaspoon
- une cuillère à café — teaspoon
- une cuillère à soupe — tablespoon
- cuillère à dessert — dessert spoon
- les couverts — cutlery
- une fourchette — fork
- un couteau — knife
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner!
👉 French restaurant phrases »
👉 French food vocabulary »
Keep learning!
👉 French Word of the Day »
Cuillère — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do you say “spoon” in French?
The French word for spoon is “une cuillère.”
How do you pronounce cuillère?
Cuillère is pronounced /kɥi.jɛʁ/ and sounds roughly like “kwee-YAIR.”
Is cuillère masculine or feminine?
Cuillère is feminine: une cuillère.
What does cuillère à soupe mean?
Cuillère à soupe means “tablespoon.”
