supper vs dinner
+9
"Dinner" is typically the main or largest meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday, while "supper" is a lighter, more casual meal served later in the evening. Dinner is often more formal or substantial, whereas supper is considered homey, comfortable, and sometimes refers to leftovers.
Our State | Celebrating North Carolina
Our State | Celebrating North Carolina
+3
Key Differences:
Formality: Dinner is often used for larger, formal meals (e.g., Sunday roast), whereas supper is commonly casual and relaxed.
Timing: Dinner is typically the main, larger meal of the day, while supper is often eaten later in the evening.
Regional Usage: "Supper" is still frequently used in the American South, Midwest, and parts of the UK. In some areas, "dinner" refers to the midday meal and "supper" refers to the evening meal.
Origins: "Dinner" comes from the French dîner, meaning to dine. "Supper" stems from the idea of "souper," which implies a lighter, soup-based meal.
Manners To Go
Manners To Go
+5
Contextual Usage:
Reddit/NoStupidQuestions: Users note that while dinner is standard, "supper" is considered more old-fashioned or tied to specific regional, family, or social traditions.
Wikipedia: Mentions that in some places, like Scotland, "supper" can describe a specific type of meal, such as a "fish supper".
Reddit
Reddit
+2
In many households, these terms are used interchangeably for the evening meal
Was always Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, and Supper and when hunger to hold you over, a snack.
Breakfast in the morning, lunch in school or at work, supper in the evening. On Sunday ... Brunch after church, Dinner (main meal), and a late supper.