TEE-spoon
/ˈtiˌspun/
teaspoon is pronounced TEE-spoon (/ˈtiˌspun/). A teaspoon is a small kitchen utensil used for measuring and scooping small amounts of ingredients or beverages. It typically holds about five milliliters of liquid or powdered substance. In culinary contexts it is also used as a standard unit of measure, distinguishing it from a tablespoon or other spoons.
A teaspoon is a small kitchen utensil used for measuring and scooping small amounts of ingredients or beverages. It typically holds about five milliliters of liquid or powdered substance. In culinary contexts it is also used as a standard unit of measure, distinguishing it from a tablespoon or other spoons.
- Common Mistake 1: Misplacing the T-release and letting the /t/ blend into a weak /s/, producing a sound like /siːspuːn/ instead of /tiˈspuːn/. Correction: emphasize a clear /t/ release, then immediately move into /sp/ without adding a vowel. - Common Mistake 2: Diluting the /puː/ into /poʊ/ or /pjuː/, turning the long vowel into a diphthong; Correction: keep the /uː/ as a tense, rounded back vowel without glide. - Common Mistake 3: Weakened final /n/, making it sound like a trailing vowel; Correction: finish with a crisp alveolar /n/ and small puff of air.
"Please add a teaspoon of sugar to the coffee."
"Stir the sauce with a teaspoon until it thickens."
"Sarah asked for a teaspoon to transfer the olive oil to the pan."
Pronounce it as teasp-oon with primary stress on the second syllable: /tiˈspuːn/. Start with a clear /tiː/ (as in tea), then a crisp /sp/ cluster, followed by a long /uː/ vowel. The t is released, the s blends with p, and the final n is light but audible. In IPA: US/UK/AU share /tiˈspuːn/. Mouth posture: front tongue high for /iː/, then a quick velar stop release into the /sp/ cluster, lips rounded slightly for /uː/.
Common errors include delaying or softening the /t/ in the initial syllable, producing /siˈspuːn/ or /tiˈspuən/ with an off glide. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the /puː/ as /pjuː/ or breaking the /sp/ cluster with an unnecessary vowel. To correct: deliver a clean /t/ release into the /sp/ cluster, keep /iː/ crisp, and ensure the /uː/ is a tense, rounded vowel without a lax off-glide. Practice with minimal pairs like tea-spoon versus tea-spoon without a pause.
In US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation is largely the same: /tiˈspuːn/. Differences are subtle: some US speakers may have a slightly tenser /iː/ and a longer /uː/ in rapid speech; UK speakers may show a marginally crisper /t/ release and more rounded lip shape for /uː/. Australian speakers tend to maintain the non-rhotic feel in some contexts, but ‘teaspoon’ is rhotic enough to clearly enunciate the /r/ is not present here; nonetheless, the vowel quality remains /iː/ and /uː/. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the /t/–/sp/ consonant cluster and the long /uː/ vowel, which requires precise lip rounding and jaw position to avoid an indistinct or shortened /uː/. Beginners often neuter the /t/ or insert a schwa after /t/ turning it into /tiː-spən/. Maintaining the strong /sp/ cluster without inserting extra vowels and producing a clear final /n/ takes controlled tongue tension and air flow, especially when speaking quickly. Focus on the clean transition from /t/ to /s/ and steady lip rounding for /uː/.
A helpful note is that the /sp/ cluster should be realized without a vowel between the /t/ and /s/, i.e., avoid inserting an additional vowel or hiatus. This can be tricky in connected speech when fast. Practicing with deliberate timing for the /t/ release, immediately followed by /sp/ helps maintain a compact onset for the second syllable. Also, keep the final /n/ light but audible to avoid a trailing vowel sound.
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- US: Tend to be slightly tenser with /iː/ and a longer /uː/. Practice with slow tempo, then speed up while maintaining crisp /t/ release; use IPA: /tiˈspuːn/. - UK: Slightly crisper /t/ release and more rounded lip rounding on /uː/. Narrow vowel space but keep non-rhotic tendencies in connected speech; IPA: /tiˈspuːn/. - AU: Similar to US in vowel quality but sometimes more relaxed with /t/; ensure the /sp/ cluster stays tight; IPA: /tiˈspuːn/.
The term teaspoon derives from the combination of tea, representing the beverage typically prepared in a teacup, and spoon, a long-handled utensil for scooping. The word spoon itself traces to Old English spōn, related to the Germanic languages, with cognates in Dutch and German. The combined form teaspoon appears in Middle English culinary texts to designate a spoon-sized measure specific to adding small quantities, especially for tea, sugar, and flavourings. The precise measurement established by the teaspoon evolved with standardized cookery practices in the 17th–19th centuries, aligning with evolving metric and imperial systems. As domestic kitchens standardized units of measure, teaspoon became a routinely cited quantity in both recipe writing and household management. First known printed uses appear in early modern English cookbook collections, with the sense refined through trade and household conventions as cooking and tea culture spread globally. Over time, “teaspoon” stabilized as both a kitchen implement and a measurement unit, often abbreviated as tsp in modern recipes and pharmacopoeias. The dual identity as utensil and unit persists in everyday language and culinary documentation.
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Help others use "teaspoon" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "teaspoon" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "teaspoon" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "teaspoon"
-pon sounds
-son sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
