The correct way to spell the tool for serving soup, stew or gravy is “ladle.” It’s a common mistake to spell it “ladel” because the sound is similar, but only one spelling will pass muster on standard English word lists. Find out why this particular spelling mix-up is so common and what you can do to make sure you never misspell “ladle” again.
I used to make this mistake a lot myself-I was even guilty of “ladel”ling soup onto my plate several times during a cooking stint for a food blog when my editor kindly pointed it out. I remember thinking to myself, “Oh! It’s like ‘handle’ not like ‘model’” and finally understood it. I was so mortified I’d probably made over a dozen errors across all those articles in my life before it was corrected!
Why “ladel” feels right
People sometimes confuse words like “ladel” and “ladle” because of how they sound. In the word “ladle,” the stress falls on the first syllable (“LAY-dle”), so the second syllable is unstressed and quick. This can make it sound similar to words that do end in “-el” – like “model,” “tunnel,” or “label.” Our brains like to associate similar sounds and then will likely go with the spelling that is most familiar to them in that sound context.
This problem isn’t restricted to British vs. American English; in all major English-speaking countries, the word is always spelled “ladle.”
What does “ladle” mean?
The word “ladle” can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it’s defined as “a deep-bowled long-handled spoon for serving food such as soup,” while as a verb it can be to “scoop up (liquid or food) with a ladle.”
Take a look at these examples:
Noun
She grabbed a ladle from the drawer.
Grandma’s new ladle has a non-slip grip.
The cook carefully reached for a ladle to pour out some broth.
Verb
He ladled the stew into four separate bowls.
Please be careful as I ladle this gravy onto your food.
Can you ladle some more punch into my cup?
Don’t forget to catch errors in the past tense too; it’s not “ladeled,” but rather “ladled.”
A simple trick for remembering the correct spelling flies vs flys spelling rule.
To help lock down the right spelling, all you have to remember is “handle.” Ladles are handled tools, and they share this suffix with words you likely already spell correctly. If you can spell “handle,” chances are pretty good that you can spell “ladle” correctly, too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is “ladel” an acceptable spelling?
No, “ladel” is a common misspelling and not found in any standard English dictionary.
Always use the spelling “ladle.”
Is the spelling difference between British and American English?
No, the spelling “ladle” is the same in both British and American English.
What is the correct pronunciation of “ladle”?
It is pronounced “LAY-dl,” with the emphasis on the first syllable.
How can I ensure I never misspell it again?
Think of “ladle” in conjunction with similar ‘-le’ words like “handle,” “table,” or “candle.”
About the Author
Faizan Babar is the writer behind ZyluxMag, where he breaks down everyday English grammar and spelling mistakes in a simple, practical way. Drawing on years of hands-on writing and editing experience, he focuses on the small mix-ups that trip up even confident writers — and the easiest ways to fix them for good.
