What is the difference between supper and dinner? How about Coke, pop, or soda? Why are so many words used for the same basic idea. By definition dinner is the main meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday. Where as Supper means the evening meal, often the principal meal of the day.
So the only real difference is whichever sounds better. Traditionally Dinner is used in the Northern states and “civilized” Midwestern cities. It usually takes place around 5:30pm or 6:30 pm. On farms it was closer to noon, since it was the main meal of the day. It is considered more of a sophistocated meal.
Supper on the other hand is used mainly in the south, taking place around nightfall and in a home surrounded by family. It is only called supper because in the south dinner is often used to replace the word lunch. It would take place somewhere between 5pm and 9pm. Supper is rarely considered the main meal of the day since it’s closer to bedtime.
So is there a proper way to announce the meal we eat last? I have been scrutinized for saying dinner instead of supper… am I wrong? Are they? Should it matter when now the word lunch has become common around the entire United States? It’s hard to say what I feel about this. It’s so strange how differnt parts of a country that claims to speak the same language can go around having multiple “right” words.. all for the same subject; coke, pop, soda; hare rabbit, bunny;supper,dinner;dinner,lunch; and so forth and so on.
Is there one correct word for any of these subjects? Or does the human race, especially the American race enjoy tormenting those new to the area because of a simple word made only to enhance the literature?
~Dark Angel
If you go read 1984, you’ll understand why we have so many words. You’d make a good party member, commrade :p
Variety is the spice of life! Use both of the words, I truly don’t think anyone will mind.
I think it would be kind of boring having only one word to describe something. Using variety of the same description gives less repetition of the same word.
i prefer using the word dinner… i guess its cuz thats what i grew up saying but my step dad and his side of the family says supper for lunch and lunch for dinner.
Well, I say dinner personally, but I could really care less which word you use. As long as it’s understandable and you don’t use the word “refrigerator” for “grandma” or something that people might not get.
But, this is coming out from my French 3-4 book with differences between the French in Quebec and that of France:
For what I call ‘dinner’;;
France uses ‘le diner’, which if you don’t know is pronounced sort of like DEE-nay, and in Quebec they use ‘le souper’ which would be similar to SOO-pay. Maybe there’s a hint of that ‘r’ in there, but it wouldn’t be prominent if it is. Anyways, if you say those, they’re quite similar to dinner and supper– and as you probably know, much of English is taken from French.
Just some food for thought! I’m not criticizing French in any way–I love it actually. xD
Hello all and thank you for each of your comments:
Omega… thanks I guess? I just found it odd how I personally am criticized for how I pernounce certain words since I was born in a different part of the United states then where I am now. And I do get told often by my own family that I am usuing teh “wrong” word, especially with these two.
ChronicleLove… yes it is true much of the “English” lanuage is taken from the french. However I must say that it is more reasonable to say that the “English” language comes from mainly Latin, since the Dutch word for dinner is diner and the Italian word for the midday meal is desinare. The Dutch word for supper is souper. All these countries are iriginated from Latin. History says the English language originated from the Anglo-Saxon English, which in turn had originated from the French, Latin, Norwedgian conquring and Germany. {mainly.}
Thank you all for your comments, and I’m sorry it took so long to reply,
~Dark Angel