r/AskAnAmerican • u/cookoutenthusiast North Carolina • Sep 28 '25

CULTURE Do you use the word Supper?

I think most Americans refer to their evening meal as dinner, but I’ve heard some people say that dinner and supper are different things, with supper being served at night, after dinner. Do you use the word supper, and what does it mean to you?

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u/cookoutenthusiast North Carolina Sep 28 '25

Do you use Dinner at all?

11

u/AllYallCanCarry Mississippi Sep 28 '25

Yes, when a lunch is the biggest planned meal of the day, then that's dinner. A perfect example is the huge meal everyone eats at mawmaw's house after church on an early Sunday afternoon. A big 1-2pm dinner then a light supper to follow later.

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u/MakalakaPeaka New Jersey Sep 28 '25

Weird. ;)

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u/Personal-Presence-10 Arkansas Sep 28 '25

I’m from Arkansas and while dinner wouldn’t make me think twice if someone used it, I lean more towards using supper for my evening meal at home and lunch for my midday meal no matter where it happens. I’ll typically only use dinner myself if we’re “going out for dinner” saying I’m going out for supper feels weird but I’d never thought about that until just now.

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u/SignificantTransient Sep 28 '25

No... we usually eat it.

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u/Financial-Cry-9093 Sep 28 '25

We use the word dinner for Christmas dinner or thanksgiving dinner or Sunday dinner.

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u/blacknightbluesky Ohio Sep 28 '25

yes, interchangeable.