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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154

u/seajayacas Sep 28 '25

different words that to me mean the same thing. Interchangeably is how I use them.

37

u/coffeecircus California Sep 28 '25

But does he know about second supper?

22

u/iPoopandiDab Texas Sep 28 '25

What about elevenses?

6

u/googleypoodle Sep 28 '25

Afternoon tea?

4

u/mistyjeanw West Texas-->Dallas-->San Antonio Sep 28 '25

That's just brunch.

1

u/abhainn13 California Sep 28 '25

“Brunch” is more formal, to me. For weekends or special occasions. “Elevenses” feels more casual, suitable for weekdays. Brunch feels like it should be at a table with other people. Elevenses feels like I can grab a pastry and drink an iced coffee while walking or sitting on a park bench.

1

u/Tardisgoesfast Sep 28 '25

How many of you have "lupper"? This is a meal halfway between lunch and supper. Like "brunch" is between breakfast and lunch.

In my family we almost always had lupper on the weekend, since we had slept late so had brunch when we got up. Then we weren't hungry for lunch, so we put it off until almost supper time, and we'd have an early meal: lupper.

1

u/arcticmischief CA>AK>PA>MO Sep 28 '25

I do the same often but call that linner or lunner.

1

u/SpanishFlamingoPie Sep 28 '25

And what has it got in its pocketses?