Supper vs. Dinner

Tonight, while deciding between a grilled cheese and a grilled cheese at the recently opened Acme Cafe in Vancouver, I noticed this heading on the menu:

My mom, who grew up back east, says supper. To me, the right word is dinner. Is this a potential entry for the Cross-Canada phrasebook? And what do you call it?

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I’ve lived in Vancouver

I've lived in Vancouver forever. For me, only lunch is lunch. Supper and dinner are both supper; dinner just has a nicer outfit on. And might be expecting company. Or have some awkward news.

becky more than 13 years ago

I grew up in Edmonton, where

I grew up in Edmonton, where it was most definitely supper. After spending many years in Ontario and Quebec (dîner anyone?) I at some point began saying dinner. I live in California now, and I only occasionally hear supper used, and probably only from people who don't come from around here.

Robert more than 13 years ago

I'm all about the dinner, but

I'm all about the dinner, but my mom says supper, so there's always confusion when we discuss mealtimes! There are still a few "Supper Clubs" in the area where I grew up in Central Wisconsin. You know, the little restaurants with the brightly colored booths, 4:00 pm early bird specials, and of course the all-you-can-eat Friday night Fish Fry.

Billie more than 13 years ago

Peggy and I grew up in the

Peggy and I grew up in the Okanagan, from prairie decendants, and it was always "supper". In my house "dinner" was what you called lunch. Only Fancy Folks called supper "dinner".

Now, after many years of restaurant work, and living in the big city with the fancy folks, we call the evening meal "dinner" now too, but we thought "supper" felt more appropriate for the cafe menu. After all, we're not high-falutin' around here.

Acme Alan more than 13 years ago

Growing up in Africa within a

Growing up in Africa within a family of Gujrati-Indians, I was told "khavanu no time che" basically "it's time to eat."

Zameer more than 13 years ago

I grew up in rural bc and

I grew up in rural bc and definitely my parents said "supper time". But my mum's parents are from Back East.

Jake, who grew up in Toronto grew up saying both - interchangeably.

Check out this post, it appears as though the US has their own supper vs dinner debate: http://keithelder.net/blog/archive/2008/03/14/Dinner-vs-Supper.aspx

Carolyn more than 13 years ago

I say dinner. Supper feels

I say dinner. Supper feels like something an old person would say.

Mika more than 13 years ago

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