Whats the diff between supper and dinner? Is it correct to use both in expressing the night meal?
2006-12-31 20:56:22 · 6 answers · asked by Don D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
The difference is different in different countries.
Supper is always an evening meal. In some countries it is a snack just before bedtime, in others just a regular meal around 6 pm, and in others it refers to any evening meal which is much lighter than a dinner would be.
In some countries, dinner is lunch. For almost all schoolchildren in Britain, "school dinners" are cooked mid-day meals supplied by the school. These have only recently started being called "school lunches" sometimes.
In many countries, "dinner" is the regular evening meal around 6 pm. When it is only a light meal, and/or when it is slightly earlier, it may be called "tea" or "high tea" instead. When it is a light meal and/or slightly later, it may be called "supper", see above, especially when it is light so that there will still be time to go out for the evening to the the theatre. The kind of people who have "suppers" like that are the same ones who on other evenings have enormous "dinners" with many courses, and wines, lasting for two or three hours.
2007-01-01 00:44:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Unfortunately, I'm not a native speaker of English. I leaned about them at school as follows.
1. Supper is always a night meal.
2. Dinner is the most luxurious meal in a day.
2006-12-31 23:07:16 · answer #2 · answered by Black Dog 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How did it take this long for someone to respond?
It is correct to use either term. In the central states of the US, dinner and supper are exactly the same, and mean the third meal of the day. In some other areas 'dinner' means 'lunch,' or the second meal of the day. Supper is always the third meal of the day. You can use either term.
2006-12-31 22:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Supper is the evening meal - ordinarily the last meal of the day, usually the meal that comes after dinner.
In many parts of the world, dinner is the main meal of a day, normally cooked food consisting of animal proteins and starch products like rice, noodles, or potatoes.
The word dinner comes from the French word diner, which means the chief meal of the day. Dinner can also mean a more sophisticated meal like a banquet.
2007-01-01 03:15:40 · answer #4 · answered by Martha P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Supper is always at night. In some places the word dinner is used for lunch, and 'supper' or 'tea' is used for the night meal. It just depends where you are.
2006-12-31 23:24:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you serious? It's suprising how ignorant people are. They *do* speak English there. They teach English to students starting at about first grade. I would know. My little cousins live in India (not to mention half my family) and I'm Indian. Thanks for the faith in people of other parts of the world. This question *is* idiotic. Edit: This isn't something you only learn in Global class. Everybody knows about Gandhi, right? And that he helped India get its *freedom from British rule*? You don't think the British may have somehow left something in India? Such as the language? English is a widely spoken language. As in world wide. That should be common knowledge. But just so you know, I was *MUCH* more offended by what "!!~~*w0rlD aGa!n$t m3*~~!!" said than your question. I really didn't mean to be rude, but you have no idea how many times I've had racial things said to me. It really gets me angry, but only because of the personal experiences I've had. And what she said really did it. So, I am sorry for being rude. But I don't think America is very well educated if people don't know things like this.
2016-05-23 02:23:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋