tablespoon

Q: Is it correct to say "two tablespoon of salt"?

No — say "two tablespoons of salt". When used as a unit of measurement, the word must be pluralized if the amount is greater than one.

Definition

n. a large spoon used for serving food or for measuring ingredients when you cook. It is bigger than a teaspoon.

n. a large spoon used for serving food or as a unit of measurement in culinary contexts. In cooking, it typically represents a volume of 15 millilitres.

simple

“Add one tablespoon of sugar to the mixture.”

contextual

“The recipe calls for a tablespoon of olive oil to be heated in the pan before adding the onions.”

complex

“While a standard tablespoon in the United States holds exactly half a fluid ounce, historical sets may vary slightly in volume depending on their country of origin.”

Often abbreviated as 'tbsp' or 'T' in written recipes.

two tablespoon of salt

two tablespoons of salt

When used as a unit of measurement, the word must be pluralized if the amount is greater than one.

From table + spoon.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

NOUN

tablespoon(B1)