“Dinner and supper are generally synonymous when referring to a meal in the evening. However, dinner can be considered by some to be a somewhat more formal word. In chiefly British English, supper can also refer to a light meal or snack that is eaten late in the evening.”
From Meriam-Webster
Those guys weren’t from the south you know…..
Pop’s Choice
My maternal grandfather would be adamant that there was a big difference and don’t get them confused.
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/supper-vs-dinner
If you grew up in the South post-colonial era, however, chances are your association with the words have more to do with colloquial etymology, rather than the time of day you sat down to eat. For example, you probably heard, “supper’s ready,” just before Mama or Grandma placed a table-full of delicious dishes before you. Because back then, families would sit down together to enjoy supper—not dinner—whether it was at noon or 6 o’clock in the evening. Today, particularly among the younger generation, not so much. Now you’re more likely to hear people ask, “what’s for dinner?”
Therein lies the great generational divide.
Quote from above article link in Southern Living
Up until his last days, my grandfather would get upset if you switched the words. To him and I’m sure many others, “dinner” is lunch. Supper is the last meal of the day. He had a separate machine shop from his house. He also had a bell in his backyard that my grandmother would ring when a meal was ready. See…. I’m not going to say the word.
In looking at the Bible, we call it the “Last Supper” which was his last meal. Maybe Jesus had an opinion on it. I doubt he’d get too upset though.
For me, they are synonymous. It’s the last meal. Lunch is the middle of the day. What about you and where you are from? What did you grow up with and what do you use now?
