# TSP

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tsp
Updated: 2026-05-10

## Definition

Stands for teaspoon. A short way of writing it when you are following a recipe. It is a small unit of measurement used for cooking or medicine.

For teachers: Abbreviation for teaspoon, used as a unit of measure in culinary and pharmaceutical contexts. Equivalent to approximately 5 millilitres.

## Examples

- Add 1 tsp of salt to the mixture.
- The recipe calls for exactly 1 tsp of baking powder to ensure the cake rises correctly.
- While professional kitchens often measure by weight for precision, home recipes frequently rely on volume-based units like the tsp for small quantities of dry ingredients.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Add one tsp.s of sugar" but "Add one tsp of sugar" — Abbreviations for units of measurement like 'tsp' do not take a plural 's' even when the amount is greater than one.

## Usage notes

- Usually written in lowercase or with a capital 'T' in recipes; often appears without a period in modern usage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.