The use of "dinner" or "supper" is a common regional difference in the USA. We on the left coast normally say, "dinner," whereas my South Carolina relatavies say, "supper," as does my Indiana spouse. Is there any defining line between areas that use the different terms? How's it said in various parts of the UK?

Well, I am not from the UK, but can I answer?

I noticed that about Sunflower when I was visiting you. Interestingly, in the Chicago area (I don't know about the rest of Illinios), we call the evening meal "dinner." However, growing up in Wisconsin, we called it "supper." After living here for a number of years, "supper" sounds strange, and I never use the word any more.

In southern Ohio, the big noon meal we always had on Sundays was "dinner." Evening meals throughout the week were "supper." We say "supper" mostly in our family now, but sometimes also "dinner." Isn't it a class thing in the UK? I think Mrs. Slocombe described Miss Brahams' use of the word "supper" for the evening meal as "dead common," whereas Capt. Peacock had lunch at noon and dinner in the evening! And now Richard, Arnie and Bob, you should probably correct me.

WM

It's also a north/south thing in England.

In the south generally the midday meal is lunch, the late afternoon meal is tea, the evening meal is dinner and the late night meal is supper. Just about the only meal where we all agree about the name and the timing is breakfast.

It is also a class thing, although probably less now than in earlier years.

The upper and middle classes would take lunch at midday, tea mid-afternoon, dinner in the evening. Supper would be a late-night snack. The working classes would eat their dinner midday and their tea or supper (the two were interchangeable) in the evening (although usually an hour or two earlier than their 'betters').

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arnie,

For me breakfast is in the morning, dinner is in the middle of the day, tea is early evening and supper is a light snack late in the evening.

Unless I'm eating out with any of those funny Southerners when I have lunch in the middle of the day and dinner in the middle of the evening.

I have breakfast in the morning, lunch near noon, and dinner in the evening. All other meals are officially snacks.

I like the Hobbit regime best, though . . .

breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies . . . etc

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I have breakfast in the morning, lunch near noon, and dinner in the evening. All other meals are officially snacks.

Me, too, CW.

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In southern Ohio, the big noon meal we always had on Sundays was "dinner."

However, I grew up in Wisconsin and used wordmatic's terminology then.