Meal Hear Dinner Supper Parts P.M Times Americans

It can be confusing to hear Americans talk about meals. Both "supper" and "dinner" mean the same thing: the last meal of the day that is served in the evening.

In most parts of the United States, especially in "urban" (city) areas, you'll hear "dinner" more often than "supper." "Supper" is also a bit old-fashioned in most parts of the country. You may hear it used for talking about eating that meal at home; it's less common to hear someone say that they are having supper at a restaurant.

In some "rural" (countryside) and Southern parts of the U.S., you may hear "dinner" used instead of "lunch" to mean the meal in the middle of the day, and "supper" used instead of "dinner" to mean the last meal of the day. However, this usage is also becoming less common these days and the terms "breakfast," "lunch," and "dinner" are the most commonly used to describe the three meals Americans typically eat each day.

For most Americans, mealtimes are as follows:

Breakfast - 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Lunch - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Dinner/Supper - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Of course there are many "exceptions" (things that do not follow the rules) depending on people's schedules and preferences, but these are times that you can expect a restaurant to serve these types of meals.

Many restaurants in many cities close at 9:00 p.m. on "weekdays" (Monday through Friday) and at 10:00 on "weekends" (Saturday and Sunday). You will still be served if you arrive anytime before closing time, but "latecomers" (people who arrive after the appointed time) will be "turned away" (not allowed to enter). There are, of course, restaurants that "cater to" (are made for; are specifically for) late-night "diners" (eaters), and many of these are open 24 hours.