tsp

IPA/tˌiːˌɛspˈiː/
IPA/tˌiːˌɛspˈiː/

tsp — abbreviation

1. a short written form of 'teaspoon' or 'teaspoonful', used in recipes and cooking

1.abbreviationA2
Definition

a short written form of 'teaspoon' or 'teaspoonful', used in recipes and cooking instructions to indicate how much of an ingredient is needed

Example

Add 1 tsp of salt to the boiling water before putting in the pasta.

pattern: [number] + tsp + of + ingredient

The recipe calls for 2 tsp of vanilla extract, but Anya only had one left.

collocation: calls for [number] tsp

Common collocations
  • level tsp
  • heaped tsp
  • rounded tsp
  • tsp of salt
  • tsp of sugar
  • tsp of baking powder
  • half a tsp
  • quarter tsp
Synonyms
  • teaspoon

    the full written form; 'tsp' is used in ingredient lists and short cooking instructions

  • teaspoonful

    the amount that fills a teaspoon; slightly more formal than the abbreviation

Grammar Patterns

[number] + tsp + of + [ingredient]

[number] + tsp + [ingredient] (directly in recipe lists)

Usage Note

Tsp is always written (never spoken aloud as 'tsp'). It is often confused with tbsp (tablespoon), which is three times larger. Always check the unit carefully in recipes.

Common Mistakes

Add 1 tbsp of salt to the sauce.
Add 1 tsp of salt to the sauce.
A tablespoon (tbsp) is about three times larger than a teaspoon (tsp); confusing them can ruin a dish.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: abbreviation/1

Teaspoon and teaspoonful both refer to the same standard cooking measure, but teaspoonful emphasises the quantity that fills a spoon (e.g. 'a teaspoonful of medicine'). Tsp is simply the abbreviated form used in written recipes and ingredient lists. The most common confusion is with tbsp (tablespoon): a tablespoon holds roughly 15 ml, while a teaspoon holds about 5 ml. In recipes, mistaking one for the other changes the dish significantly. When reading a recipe aloud, say 'teaspoon' rather than 'tsp'; write 'tsp' in shopping lists or notes.

teaspoon ↗teaspoonful ↗tbsp

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • level tsp
  • heaped tsp
  • rounded tsp
  • half a tsp
  • quarter tsp
  • 1 tsp of

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Tsp is a shortened form of the word teaspoon, which was formed by combining tea and spoon in the 1600s, when tea drinking became popular in Europe and small spoons were used for measuring and stirring the leaves.