Cool MateDinner vs Supper
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dinner
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Supper
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Dinner
| Dinner | Supper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪnə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪnər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌpə//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌpɚ// |
| Meaning | the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening | The evening meal. |
| Example | I had spaghetti for dinner last night. | We have supper at six every evening. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | delicious, excellent, good, table, things, plates, elegant, fancy, lavish, give, hold, host, party, engagement, dance | have supper, prepare supper, supper time |
| Antonyms | breakfast, lunch | breakfast, lunch |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'supper', which can refer to a lighter evening meal in some cultures., Using 'dinner' to refer to lunch in a formal context, which is incorrect., 'Dinner' can imply a more formal meal, so avoid casual settings. | Confused with 'dinner' in some cultures., Used inappropriately in casual conversation., Mispronounced as 'sup-pr'. |
| Usage notes | Used to refer to the main meal, often in a social or family setting. Not typically used to describe lunch or breakfast. | Used for a meal in the evening, often more formal than 'dinner'. Not commonly used in all English-speaking regions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dinner vs Supper
What's the difference between Dinner and Supper?
Dinner: the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening Supper: The evening meal.
Which is more common: Dinner and Supper?
Dinner is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dinner: I had spaghetti for dinner last night. Supper: We have supper at six every evening.
Can I use Dinner and Supper interchangeably?
Not always. Dinner and Supper are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.