supper
B2Neutral to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The final meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening; a light, informal evening meal.
Any light meal or snack eaten late in the day. In specific contexts, can refer to a communal evening meal in an institution or a social gathering for a late meal (e.g., "church supper").
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is variable and sometimes ambiguous. The modern primary meaning is an evening meal, but its perceived size, formality, and timing relative to 'dinner' vary significantly by region, class, and personal/family habit. It can be synonymous with 'dinner' or a smaller meal following it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'supper' can denote a light, late meal (after dinner) OR, especially in some regions/classes, be the standard term for the main evening meal. In the US, 'supper' is generally the main evening meal, but is perceived as more rural, Southern, or old-fashioned compared to 'dinner'. 'Dinner' in the US can refer to the main meal eaten at midday or evening.
Connotations
UK: Can connote informality, cosiness, or upper-class usage (depending on context). US: Often connotes rurality, tradition, family informality, or the South.
Frequency
More common in everyday speech in the UK and in specific US regions (South, Midwest, rural areas). In general American speech, 'dinner' is more frequent for the evening meal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have [supper]eat [supper]cook/make [supper] for [someone][supper] is readystay for [supper]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare. Would be used only in a casual, 'working supper' context, often hyphenated: 'a working-supper meeting'.
Academic
Rare, except in historical/sociological texts discussing meals or cultural practices.
Everyday
Common, especially in domestic/family contexts.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have supper at seven o'clock.
- I ate soup for supper.
- Would you like to stay for supper? It's just a simple pasta dish.
- After the theatre, we went home and had a light supper.
- In my grandparents' house, 'dinner' was at noon and 'supper' was the evening meal.
- The church is organising a fundraising supper next Friday.
- The connotations of 'supper' versus 'dinner' offer a fascinating insight into British class and regional identities.
- He invited us for a working supper to finalise the proposal details.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bowl of soup at night: 'SUPper' is the evening meal you might have soup for. It's also 'SUPer' informal.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME OF DAY IS A CONTAINER FOR MEALS (e.g., 'in the evening we have supper'). / INFORMALITY IS LIGHTNESS (a 'light' supper).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'суп' (soup). 'Supper' is a meal, not a dish. The Russian 'ужин' maps directly to 'supper' or 'dinner'. The key is learning the regional/cultural variation with 'dinner'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'supper' in very formal contexts. / Using 'supper' to refer to a meal at a restaurant (less common). / Confusing 'supper' (meal) with 'super' (excellent).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST likely context for the word 'supper'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's highly variable. For many, they are synonyms for the evening meal. For others, 'dinner' is the largest meal of the day (at noon or evening), and 'supper' is a lighter evening meal, possibly following 'dinner'. Usage depends on region, culture, and family tradition.
No. 'Supper' is generally neutral to informal. It is associated with home, family, and casual settings. A formal evening meal is more likely to be called 'dinner'.
No. 'Supper' is almost exclusively a noun in modern English. The related verb is 'sup' (to eat supper), but this is archaic or dialectal.
No. While both use it for an evening meal, in the UK it can mean a late snack or be the main term for the evening meal (especially in upper-class usage). In the US, it is more common as the main evening meal in rural, Southern, or older speech, and can sound dated or regional elsewhere.