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Spoon

A spoon is a utensil with a small shallow bowl or head attached to a handle.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A spoon is a hand-held utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl attached to a handle. It is primarily used for eating, serving, measuring, and stirring food. Spoons are classified as cutlery or flatware and have been used as eating utensils since prehistoric times.

Definition and design

A spoon is a hand-held utensil with a shallow bowl-shaped end and a handle. The exact shape varies, but the basic function is to hold and transfer food or liquid.

Uses

Spoons are used for eating foods such as soup, cereal, and yogurt, as well as for serving, measuring, mixing, and stirring ingredients in food preparation.

Materials and forms

Common modern materials include metal, wood, porcelain, and plastic. The term also covers many specialized forms, such as serving spoons and measuring spoons.

History

Reference sources state that spoons have been used as eating utensils since Paleolithic times, making them one of the oldest common dining tools.

English also uses spoon for spoon-shaped tools, measures such as a spoonful, and some slang or archaic senses. Dictionaries record both literal and figurative extensions of the word.

Key facts

  • Spoons are defined by a shallow bowl-like end and a handle.
  • They are used for eating, serving, cooking, measuring, mixing, and stirring food.
  • Modern spoons are commonly made from stainless steel, silver, wood, porcelain, or plastic.
  • Spoons have been used since Paleolithic times.
  • The word also extends to other spoon-shaped objects and verb/slang uses.
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Canadian context

Spoons are a standard part of Canadian dining culture and household kitchenware. Canadian readers may also encounter the phrase “A Dish with One Spoon,” an Indigenous treaty concept from the Great Lakes and northeastern North America.[16]

Frequently asked questions

What is a spoon?
A spoon is a utensil with a shallow bowl and a handle, used for eating, serving, measuring, and stirring food.
What are spoons made of?
Common spoon materials include metal, wood, porcelain, and plastic.
Are spoons cutlery?
Yes. Spoons are a type of cutlery, and they are often grouped with forks as flatware.
What are spoons mainly used for?
They are mainly used to transfer food to the mouth, especially liquids and soft foods, and also for cooking and serving.
How old are spoons?
Sources describe spoons as being used since Paleolithic times.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon
    Supports: Definition, uses, materials, and general description of the utensil.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/spoon-utensil
    Supports: Definition, uses, and classification as flatware.
  3. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon
    Supports: Dictionary definition and extended meanings.
  4. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon
    Supports: Historical note that spoons have been used since Paleolithic times.
  5. California Academy of Sciences — https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/anthropology/utensil/spoons.htm
    Supports: Historical note on spoons as eating utensils since Paleolithic times.
  6. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/a-dish-with-one-spoon
    Supports: Canadian Indigenous phrase “A Dish with One Spoon” and its meaning.