Dinner & Supper

[Jessica]

What's the difference between dinner and supper....I know that I always ask my mom "What's for dinner?" and not "What's for supper?". Is supper a bigger meal...?

[laepelba]

In English, I think that the differences are small and somewhat vague. I think that supper can only be used for an evening meal. Whereas "dinner" can be used for a large, heavy meal that can happen either mid-day, afternoon, or evening. When I was growing up we had dinner in the evenings on weekdays, but had Sunday "dinner" at about 1 or 2:00pm - and it was a HUGE ordeal with LOTS of food - the kind of meal that requires a nap afterwards. It would never have been called "supper" on Sunday afternoons. But weekday evenings could definitely have been called supper OR dinner. Helpful?

[ewomack]

I've always used these terms interchangeably - similar to "soda" and "pop." I honestly don't have a clue what the difference is. Maybe regional?

The internet makes this distinction, which seems to gel with the post above:

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

Dinner: the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

I've been using these terms without even thinking about it. Go figure.

[LRW]

It is most definitely regional. It is more common in southern area to use supper, whereas in the North people tend to use dinner. It also has something to do with the age and generation of the individual. Younger generations tend to use dinner rather than supper.

[Jessica]

ok thanks all :-)

[CrOtALiTo]

Then Supper and Dinner are the same.
I don't what of the words can use of the way more accurate. I always used the word dinner, and I didn't know of the existence of other way to say the same. But now I'm more confused than never. I'd like to know what is the way more correct to say (Cena).

Supper or Dinner.

I appreciate your help.

[Jessica]

cena can be dinner or supper.

you use dinner, so that's okay. some people use supper.


Is that what you're confused about?

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes. Thank you for you advice.

[Jessica]

you're welcome :-)