The things you learn (or not learn) in school - Dinner vs. Supper
@stine1online (835)
Germany
July 21, 2020 8:34am CST
Ok, here I am... almost 40 years old with sooo many years of English in school and they taught me something totally wrong!
I learned (and believed until 5 minutes ago!) that dinner and supper are the same thing - one is more American English, the other one more British English and BOTH are ALWAYS served in the EVENING.
Ha! Wrong! My English teachers did not explain it correctly....
So, when do you eat your supper or dinner?
Can we still agree that breakfast is for mornings? *lol*
9 people like this
10 responses
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
22 Jul 20
@stine1online In the north, tea is a normal meal. Apparantly it's more normal among the working class to call it that, but my friend is definitly middle middle-class. Possibly high-middle class.
1 person likes this
@stine1online (835)
• Germany
22 Jul 20
Totally different to what I read about "tea" being a light snack *lol*
2 people like this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
27 Oct 21
I think that, in the U.S., it is somewhat a matter of region, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment level as to which word one uses. Just as the way one uses the word "tea" in British English serves to mark one's class, the choice of calling the third meal of the "supper" or "dinner" seems to serve as something of a class marker here in the States. At least, that is the way it seems to be based on my years of interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342105)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 20
When I was growing up, we knew the meals as breakfast, dinner and tea. Now, it's breakfast, lunch and dinner. 'Supper' here is a snack with coffee or tea before bedtime. I agree that it is very confusing and seems to differ between countries and even between regions and/or families.
@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
21 Jul 20
I grew up eating Breakfast, Dinner and Supper. Then some began calling it Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Now we have Brunch, Linner and a midnight snack!
@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
22 Jul 20
@lovebuglena It's late afternoon between Lunch and Dinner,
@stine1online (835)
• Germany
22 Jul 20
@Namelesss Ok, linner is totally new.... oh my, languages are evolving *lol*
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
6 Aug 20
@stine1online
I am curious why they would teach you that in school. Actually I do not eat supper or dinner. I eat breakfast and lunch mostly.
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
27 Jul 20
Well, Until I read this. I was under the same impression YOU WERE...
I use Supper and Dinner interchangeably.
I did not know that there was such a difference.
I don't think you English teachers were wrong..
I think how ever created that picture is.. lol
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Jul 20
I am originally from Belarus. There we had breakfast (morning), dinner (early afternoon), and then supper (early evening). Sometimes we had a late afternoon snack. It could be tea with something. Or something light.
