Cool MateDinner vs Supper's
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dinner
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Supper's
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Dinner
| Dinner | Supper's | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪnə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪnər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌp.ə//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌpər// |
| Meaning | the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening | A main meal eaten in the evening. |
| Example | I had spaghetti for dinner last night. | We enjoyed a lovely supper by the fireplace. |
| 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, serve supper |
| 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 'supper' and 'dinner' depending on regional use., Using 'supper' too formally in casual contexts., Assuming 'supper' is a meal in different cultures without understanding local customs. |
| 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 primarily in British English; might not be understood in more modern or international contexts where 'dinner' is preferred. Often implies a lighter meal compared to 'dinner'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dinner vs Supper's
What's the difference between Dinner and Supper's?
Dinner: the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening Supper's: A main meal eaten in the evening.
Which is more common: Dinner and Supper's?
Dinner is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dinner: I had spaghetti for dinner last night. Supper's: We enjoyed a lovely supper by the fireplace.
Can I use Dinner and Supper's interchangeably?
Not always. Dinner and Supper's 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.