Key Facts
- Hangul: 숟가락; Revised Romanization: sutgarak
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native
- Register: Neutral everyday word for a table spoon.
- Pronunciation: [숟까락]
Spoon in Korean: What Does 숟가락 Mean?
숟가락 is a spoon, specifically the table spoon used for rice and soup. The register is neutral and everyday. Korean tables use a spoon and chopsticks together, so the word often appears next to 젓가락.
How Do You Pronounce It?
It is pronounced [숟까락]. The ㄷ at the end of the first syllable is an unreleased stop, and the ㄱ after it becomes tense, so you hear "kka".
Example Sentences with 숟가락
숟가락으로 국을 먹어요.
sutgarageuro gugeul meogeoyo.
I eat soup with a spoon.
으로 marks the tool you use. 국을 먹어요 is "eat soup", so the verb is "eat", not "drink".
숟가락 하나 주세요.
sutgarak hana juseyo.
Please give me a spoon.
하나 is "one", and 주세요 is the polite request. This is what you say at a restaurant when the spoon is missing.
아기가 숟가락으로 밥을 먹어요.
agiga sutgarageuro babeul meogeoyo.
The baby eats rice with a spoon.
아기가 is "the baby" as subject. The sentence shows who the spoon is for: a child learning to feed itself.
Common Phrases and Collocations
숟가락을 놓다 literally means "to set down the spoon", that is, to finish eating. As an idiom it can also be a blunt, slangy way to say someone has died, so use it with care. 밥숟가락 is the rice spoon, and 숟가락과 젓가락 lists both utensils.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 숟가락으로 먹다 | to eat with a spoon |
| 숟가락을 놓다 | to set down a spoon (to finish eating) |
| 숟가락과 젓가락 | spoon and chopsticks |
| 밥숟가락 | rice spoon |
The Mistake to Avoid
Two errors are common.
- Wrong: 숫가락
- Right: 숟가락 (with ㄷ, not ㅅ)
수저 can mean either a spoon or the spoon-and-chopsticks pair. Ask for 숟가락 when you want to make clear that you need the spoon alone.
숟가락 Compared with Similar Words
수저 can name the pair of utensils, often when setting the table, or a spoon alone. 젓가락 is chopsticks, the other main eating utensil. 숟가락 is the spoon alone.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 숟가락 | spoon | This page's word |
| 수저 | spoon and chopsticks set; spoon | Can name both utensils together or a spoon alone. |
| 젓가락 | chopsticks | The other main Korean eating utensil. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
숟가락 is a native Korean word, so it has no hanja.
Replacing a Dropped Spoon at a Restaurant
A customer has dropped a spoon and asks the server for a clean one. Both speakers use polite everyday Korean.
Customer
저기요, 숟가락을 떨어뜨렸어요.
Jeogiyo, sutgarageul tteoreotteuryeosseoyo.
Excuse me, I dropped my spoon.
Server
새 숟가락 드릴까요?
Sae sutgarak deurilkkayo?
Would you like a new spoon?
Customer
네, 하나만 주세요.
Ne, hanaman juseyo.
Yes, just one, please.
Server
네, 여기 있어요.
Ne, yeogi isseoyo.
Sure, here you are.
새 숟가락 means a new or replacement spoon here. The customer answers 하나만, “just one”, because the utensil has already been named. 저기요 gets the server’s attention; 주세요 makes the request polite. The spoon itself has no special honorific name that you need to use in this exchange.
Counting Spoons and Spoonfuls
숟가락 하나 asks for one physical spoon. 한 숟가락 means a spoonful: the amount held by a spoon. The order matters. At a table, a request for a utensil and a suggestion to eat one spoonful may contain the same noun, but they ask for different things.
밥 한 숟가락 is a spoonful of rice. Here 밥 names the food and 한 숟가락 gives the amount. It is useful when describing a small bite or how much someone ate. It is not a precise volume unless the surrounding recipe defines the spoon being used.
Recipe measurements such as 큰술 and 작은술 mean tablespoon and teaspoon. An ordinary eating spoon is not automatically a measuring spoon. If you are reading a measured recipe, follow its measurement label rather than assuming every mention of 숟가락 gives the same volume.
Which Phrases Describe Actions at the Table?
숟가락을 들다 literally means lifting or taking up a spoon. In a meal scene, it can signal beginning to eat. 숟가락을 놓다 describes putting it down, which can signal finishing. The setting tells you whether the speaker means a physical movement or the start or end of the meal.
Because 숟가락을 놓다 also has the blunt figurative meaning mentioned above, it is a poor choice for a respectful condolence. In a recipe or an ordinary meal scene, however, a spoon being put down may be completely literal. Read the surrounding action before interpreting it as a reference to death.
숟가락으로 저어요 means “stir with a spoon”. The same 으로 that marks the eating tool can mark a mixing tool. By contrast, 숟가락을 씻어요 means “wash the spoon”; 을 makes the spoon the object being washed. The utensil name stays fixed while the particle shows its role.
Where Will You See Utensil Words?
In a restaurant, a container or drawer may be labelled 수저. The label can cover spoons and chopsticks together. 수저 can also mean a spoon on its own; this is an established meaning, as the National Institute of Korean Language explains. 숟가락 is a clear choice when you want to specify the spoon.
Tableware to Learn Next
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 젓가락 | chopsticks | Specify these when the missing utensil is chopsticks. |
| 수저 | spoon and chopsticks / spoon | Context decides which meaning is intended. |
| 그릇 | bowl / dish | A container for food rather than a utensil. |
| 접시 | plate | A flatter dish for serving food. |
The kitchen vocabulary lesson teaches more tableware. Naming the exact item makes a restaurant request easier to answer.
Quick Self-Test
- Which asks for a utensil: 숟가락 하나 or 한 숟가락?
- Can 수저 ever mean just a spoon?
- Why does 숟가락으로 have 으로 in a sentence about eating soup?
Show answers
- 숟가락 하나. 한 숟가락 means a spoonful.
- Yes. It can mean a spoon or the spoon-and-chopsticks pair.
- 으로 marks the tool used for eating.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "spoon" in Korean?
Say 숟가락 (sutgarak).
How do you say "eat with a spoon"?
Say 숟가락으로 먹다.
What does 수저 mean?
수저 can mean the pair of a spoon and chopsticks, or a spoon alone. Ask for 숟가락 when you want to specify the spoon.
Is it 숟가락 or 숫가락?
Write 숟가락, with ㄷ.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the kitchen words page groups 숟가락 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 숟가락 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare with the page for chopsticks.