What's the difference between (to have) DINNER and (to have) SUPPER?

Question

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Answer 1

It really depends on what part of the country you are from.

Here in Utah we call the last meal of the day dinner. My grandmother, who is from the south, calls it supper. They are the same thing around here, and the south. It's really a matter of upbringing.

Answer 2

Very subtle differences here! As much ones of class as anything.

Dinner can be a meal taken at midday - usually on special occasions 'Sunday Dinner' 'Christmas Dinner' etc. Or in former working class terminology always the midday meal for that taken in the early evening would be 'tea'. Children who take a midday meal at school used to be said to be having 'school dinners', although that usage has fallen a little in recent years for 'school lunch'. However, in other circles, a meal taken in the evening, say around 8 o'clock, being the main meal of the day, would be called 'dinner'. The meal at midday in these circumstances would be called lunch.

Supper used to be a light meal or snack taken immediately before retiring to bed, especially when 'tea' rather than 'dinner' was eaten in the evening. However, now it can mean the main meal of the evening. Friends will be invited for 'supper' rather 'dinner' these days, the idea being that the function is less formal and more friendly.

Occasionally, if people were going out in the evening to the theatre or opera, they would have 'high tea' which would imply that something light, but cooked, was eaten - say an egg, or plain fish. Then upon return a full supper would be eaten - or indeed eaten in a restaurant.

Many classes used to 'dress for dinner', i.e. the men would wear dinner suits ('tuxedos' to Americans), and the women long evening gowns.

It is complicated, I know, and all tied up with the English class system!.

Answer 3

I think in US “supper” and “dinner” mean the same for evening meals. “Supper” is an old term and it was used commonly many years ago. On the other hand “dinner” is used more often in modern times. The english language is slightly different than it was in the 1800's. Where Iam from here in Illinois, there are alot of people called "Rednecks and Hillbillys.", like myself that call lunch "dinner" and dinner "supper". Its all in where you live and how you were raised up.

Answer 4

This does vary by region. In the Midwest, where I live, dinner is generally a more formal meal than supper. You would go out to a nice restaurant for dinner, or you might have an elaborate dinner at home on a Sunday or holiday at noon. By contrast, supper is a lighter, more casual meal eaten in the evening at home.

Answer 5

The definition of each in the U.S.A. seems to have alot to do with the region of the country in which you live. Where I come from, New York, the word "dinner" only applied to the meal that you ate on Sunday afternoon. Lunch referred to meals eatern the rest of the week at noon and supper referred to the evening meal which for most people seems to be between 5 and 7 p.m.

Answer 6

Dinner : The chief meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.

Supper: a light evening meal; served in early evening, if dinner is at midday, or served late in the evening at bedtime

It depends on what part of the country your from ( or what country, for that matter ) but dinner is usually the more substantial meal, whereas supper is something light and far less "heavy" than dinner.

Answer 7

Nothing, really. People from different parts of the country call it different names based on their culture.

Answer 8

down south we call (dinner) SUPPER everyone else in all the other states call (supper) DINNER also down south we call lunch (DINNER) just where you located as to what its called but its the same

Answer 9

depends on where you live - and what time of day you eat it...........
sometimes its..

lunch (early afternoon)
dinner (evening)

sometimes its..

dinner (early afternoon)
tea (evening)

sometimes its...

lunch (early afternoon)
supper (evening)

sometimes its

lunch (early afternoon)
dinner(evening)
supper (late evening)

i guess it doesnt really matter - just mix and match!