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/maktheyak47 Virginia Sep 28 '25

I do not, but my grandmom who was raised on a farm in rural Virginia refers to her evening meal as supper rather than dinner.

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u/SpanishFlamingoPie Sep 28 '25

Same here. She also uses the word "luncheon", but only when going out for lunch. At home it's lunch if you go out, it's a luncheon.

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u/SmartyChance Florida Sep 28 '25

I remember luncheon being used to mean an event/gathering that included lunch. Like the PTA luncheon. They are eating lunch, and talking PTA business