What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spoon
Example
She stirred the soup with a spoon. [spoon: noun]
Example
He spooned sugar into his coffee. [spooned: past tense verb]
ladle
Example
She used a ladle to serve the soup. [ladle: noun]
Example
He ladled the punch into the cups. [ladled: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spoon is more commonly used than ladle in everyday language. Spoon is a common household item used for eating and stirring, while ladle is less common and is typically only used for serving specific dishes.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spoon and ladle?
Both spoon and ladle are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
