spoon theory

Questions

What does spoon theory mean?

An informal metaphor for chronic illness or disability that uses "spoons" to represent the finite units of physical and mental energy that a person has available for daily tasks.

Where does spoon theory come from?

Coined by writer and disability advocate Christine Miserandino in a 2003 blog post recounting an incident in which she explained living with lupus to a friend in a diner by gathering spoons from other tables to serve as visual props for a metaphor.

How to pronounce spoon theory

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “spoon theory”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “spoon theory”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “spoon theory” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.