Compound nouns formed with prepositions a, de, en

April S.A2Kwiziq community member

Compound nouns formed with prepositions a, de, en

Is cuillère à thé a fixed phrase meaning a teaspoon for measuring? The lesson says à generally means what something is used for, however, this phrase would then mean "a spoon for tea," not a "teaspoon."

Asked 4 years ago
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I think that you are correct literally to express "cuillère à thé" as "a spoon for tea" but we say in english "a teaspoon" both are the same thing, just expressed slightly different between the two languages.  

J. S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Larousse suggests «une cuillère à cafe», «une cuillère à moka» and «une petite cullère». (It also suggests «une cuiller» from English to French, but this otherwise seems to get translated as spoon.)

April S. asked:

Compound nouns formed with prepositions a, de, en

Is cuillère à thé a fixed phrase meaning a teaspoon for measuring? The lesson says à generally means what something is used for, however, this phrase would then mean "a spoon for tea," not a "teaspoon."

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