What is Dinner?
Dinner refers to the main meal of the day that is eaten at noon or evening. It comes from the French word ‘disner’ which means “lunch”, but originally meant “breakfast”). Disner is derived from Latin dis- + iēiūnō which means to break the fast.
Although it can be done during midday, dinner is largely eaten in the evening in most western cultures. In ancient times, it used to be eaten in midday.
However, dinner is still used to refer to major meals eaten during the day. Particularly on special occasions like Christmas dinner, it is still occasionally used for a meal at noon or in the early afternoon. In hot climates, the evening, when the temperature has dropped, is more likely to be when the main meal is consumed.
In the 17th century, Louis XIV ate dinner at noon and supper at ten o’clock. However, in Europe, dinner started to be served later in the day in the 1700s as a result of advancements in working conditions.
In the 18th century, eating dinner at two or three in the afternoon remained stylish. However, a demand for dinner hour to be pushed to later hours of the day grew. Dinners were around 5:00 or 6:00pm especially for middle class men as it allowed them to have it after arriving from work.
In modern usage, dinner is used to refer to the meal of the day.
What is Supper?
Supper refers to an informal or light meal done in the evening. The term is derived from The term is derived from the French souper.
Supper has different minutes across different locations. In the South of the US, the term “supper” is used to describe the evening meal when it is shared with family members and served at home.
The dinner may consist primarily of leftovers from the mid-day meal and is rather light.
In other parts of the country, late meals may be referred to as dinners or suppers. The best time for a late meal or late dinner might vary depending on where you are in the world and can be anytime between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. Due to its proximity to bedtime compared to other meals, supper is rarely thought of as the most significant meal of the day.
The best time for a late meal or late dinner might vary depending on where you are in the world and can be anytime between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. Due to its proximity to bedtime compared to other meals, supper is thought of as the least significant meal of the day.
Difference Between Dinner and Supper
- Dinner is universally eaten in the evening but sometimes in the midday. Supper is eaten in late evening.
- Dinner is a larger meal than supper. Supper is a light meal.
- Dinner is formal. Supper is casual.
- Dinner can be eaten at home or in an eatery. Supper is eaten at home.
- Dinner is the main meal of the day. Supper is eaten to complement dinner.
Comparison Between Dinner and Supper
| Parameters of Comparison | Dinner | Supper |
| Time | Mostly eaten in the evening, sometimes midday. | Eaten late in the evening |
| Size | Is larger in size and quantity than supper. | Is lighter and littler than dinner. |
| Formality | Often formal | Typically casual. |
| Location | Can be eaten at home, bakery or a formal gathering. | Typically eaten at supper. |
| Rank | Is the main meal of the day | Is a complement for dinner |