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Supper is fairly universal for dinner. In fact, it predates the word "dinner" by about 24 years (1275 vs. 1297). However, these days, dinner does tend to be used more often outside of the South, and even in the South it's about 50/50 with dinner. Historically, in the South, Supper was always "dinner" and "dinner" is what most people call "lunch". In today's south, Lunch has eclipsed "dinner", though you'll still hear a fair number of older adults and rural residents refer to Lunch as dinner.
My grandpa and a man I work with still use the dinner for lunch and supper for dinner. I use supper for dinner I guess since I lived in my grandparent's household 'til I was 14.
When my mother first moved to Kentucky (from Michigan), she invited her two brother in laws (life long Kentuckians) over for dinner on Saturday. They both showed up around noon. My mother was not prepared, in fact, she wondered "why they were 6 hours early" for dinner.
Ahh, the good old days. That was one of the first of many, many "welcome to the south" moments.
My grandpa and a man I work with still use the dinner for lunch and supper for dinner. I use supper for dinner I guess since I lived in my grandparent's household 'til I was 14.
I use both Supper and Dinner interchangeably. Growing up, my parents always said "Supper". That was what I always called it. My wife, however, who grew up outside the South says "Dinner", so her, along with popular culture, has rubbed off, I suppose.
By the way, we never called lunch dinner. My dad, however, said that growing up in the 50s, they called lunch dinner.
I've always called the evening meal supper and many people in my area call it supper. But there are some who call it dinner. I call the meal at noon lunch but my grandparents call it dinner.
We just say come eat.....we never use lunch or dinner. We use breakfast though.
We also say come eat. But around the people we know or if we asking or mom on the phone we ask, what we eating for dinner tonight or what we eating tonight or what are you cooking tonight. Supper never comes out.
I use both Supper and Dinner interchangeably. Growing up, my parents always said "Supper". That was what I always called it. My wife, however, who grew up outside the South says "Dinner", so her, along with popular culture, has rubbed off, I suppose.
By the way, we never called lunch dinner. My dad, however, said that growing up in the 50s, they called lunch dinner.
Very interesting sub-topic on it all, CF!
I grew up calling the three meals of the day breakfast, dinner, supper. But nowdays, I very often say breakfast, lunch, and supper just because it has grown on me and -- being a teacher -- I find many younger people don't even know exactly what I mean when I say "dinner" at mid-day! LOL
I will still often still use "dinner" for the noonday meal, but at the same time, anymore (*sighs with regret*) I use "lunch" with increasing and disturbing frequency!
I suppose that just as has the mass-media culture and chain fast food diluted the use of regional terms such as "po'boy" (Southern) and hoagie (generally Midwest) and "grinder" (Northeast) into a more widespread national use of "sub"? So has (starting, I think, with the federal school lunch program) "lunch" replaced dinner in popular use in Texas/South, as well as other rural areas where, theretofore, "dinner" was commonly used.
*grins a bit in remembering* A couple of years back, at "lunch time" I told my classroom aide, that I was going to go home and "eat dinner". One of my students asked if I meant "lunch".
I was a bit taken aback as the mistranslation in generations was something I hadn't thought of before. Anyway, when I explained somewhat, the kid told me something like "Dont worry, Mr. ***, my grandmother still calls lunch dinner" Oh man..!
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