More About meals

More About

meals

People use the words dinner, lunch, supper and tea in different ways depending on which English-speaking country they come from. In Britain it may also depend on which part of the country or which social class a person comes from.

A meal eaten in the middle of the day is usually called lunch. If it is the main meal of the day it may also be called dinner in British English, especially in the north of the country and in schools:

I make sure my kids have a hot school dinner, not just a packed lunch.

A main meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner, especially if it is a formal meal. Supper is also an evening meal, but more informal than dinner and usually eaten at home. It can also be a late meal or something to eat and drink before going to bed.

In British English, tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cakes, etc. and a cup of tea:

a cream tea.

It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children:

What time do the kids have their tea?

As a general rule, if dinner is the word someone uses for the meal in the middle of the day, they probably call the meal in the evening tea or supper. If they call the meal in the middle of the day lunch, they probably call the meal in the evening dinner.

Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch, is becoming more common, especially as a meal where your guests serve themselves.