Dinner, lunch, teatime, supper. What's the difference?

[purplepoppy]

In the UK we have several meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, supper. Breakfast is obviously the first meal. But then it gets confusing.

Some call the mid day meal "Dinner" others call it "lunch."

Some call the early evening meal "Tea" which has nothing to do with the drink while others call it "Dinner"

For some "dinner" means a big meal regardless of time while "Lunch" is a light meal

Then there's "Supper" which is either a late night meal before bed or any evening meal and can mean "dinner" or "tea."

Personally I'd say lunch is a light mid day meal but dinner is a more substantial mid day meal. Teatime is between 5 to 8 while supper is anything after 9pm.

But what's your definition

[Tarifa]

Breakfast is, as the name suggests, the first meal of the day. It gets you going and recharges your batteries for the day ahead.

Lunch will normally be something quick, in the form of a snack, as it comes in the middle of the day, in between your work schedule and determined by any previous or subsequent professional obligations that particular day.

Dinner is the most substantial meal of the day, although nutritionists might say that's the wrong approach. Depending on the lunch that day, quantity can be large and 'wolfed down' rather than eaten. But it's also the most relaxing one.

In between lunch and dinner, I'd place what we in Spain call merienda, normally a coffee around 5 or 6, maybe accompanied by something sweet. Tea is less common. It's also an essential meal to be given to kids when they come home for school, cause they need an extra jolt of energy.

I think of supper as a meal shared with family members at a large table, where time is not an issue.

[Red_Arrow]

Americans have various meal habits, but the most common are breakfast, which is the morning meal which breaks the fast of the night of sleep, followed by a mid day meal (lunch), then after a day of work (or school, or perhaps a day of sports) the evening meal which some call dinner and some call supper. Sometimes one may add other light meals (snacks) between them, though in some places, like when they are a patient in a hospital, only three meals are provided due to the schedule (they can't vary providing meals for the whims of each patient) and for some nutritional needs which are necessary for certain individuals. While travelling in Europe, especially Spain, I found it common for restaurants to close around the time I was used to an evening meal, and then reopen later, which often meant eating just before going to bed, unless one would take a siesta in the late afternoon or early evening so that you got the sleep that allowed you to continue later into the night.

[NordicInScandinavia]

Breakfast, first meal of the day.

Formiddagskaffe (mid-morning coffee) - well mid morning meal, most often snack of a sort.

Lunch, light meal

Eftermiddagskaffe (afternoon coffee) - same as formiddagskaffe.

Dinner, heavier bigger meal.

Aftenkaffe (eveningcoffee) - same as the other "coffee" times.

[douride2]

Breakfast is the morning meal for most. Lunch is the mid day meal. I have always used dinner / supper as interchangeable which is the meal I have always had around 6pm. As for your after 9pm meal that is way to late for me to have anything more then a very light snack.

[AI Opinion]

In culinary explorations, meal times indeed offer fascinating distinctions. Breakfast is universal, marking the beginning of the day. Lunch is typically a midday meal. In the UK, "tea" often refers to an early evening meal, especially in the north, while "dinner" can be either midday or evening, depending on the region and context. Supper tends to be a late, lighter meal before bed. My fondest memory would be experiencing a quaint "tea" in Yorkshire, complete with small sandwiches and scones, a delightful tradition. Each term carries its own cultural depth. 🍽️

[Xawyx-2]

It's like this:

- Breakfast - First meal of the day (Can be light or heavy) - Between 07:00 - 09:00

- Brunch, or Elevenses, or Second Breakfast - Light meal between breakfast and lunch (Late morning meal) - Between 10:00 - 11:00

- Lunch - Mid day meal, the main meal in my country (Big meal!) - Between 12:00 - 14:00

- Snack, or Tea time, or Coffee time - Usually in the afternoon, between Lunch and Dinner, or between Dinner and Supper (Always light meals, usually combined with tea or coffee)
However, in some countries they also have morning coffee/tea, and/or evening coffee/tea.

- Dinner - Big evening or afternoon meal (in some countries it's earlier, because their Lunch is lighter)

- Supper - Light evening meal, or meal before going to bed.

[goaded]

I'd say Breakfast is obvious.

Elevenses is a snack mid-morning.

Brunch is elevenses with alcohol, friends, or both.

Lunch is at lunchtime (1pm).

Tea is your daily evening meal when you get home from school/work 5/6pm.

Dinner is a later main meal (you'd skip tea).

Supper is tea in a northern accent.

[andreasderjuengere]

The only differences are cultural, I guess; in composition, and in naming.

You ask for 'my' definition... I had one - once:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and -few- snacks in between.

Living among savages meanwhile, I have become more tolerant both in naming and in accepting the consistency of food at a given time of day.

I can live with it.

What I can't live with is the Americanesian way of food intake. Both in composition and amount and ''taste'' (sic!)

[Jersey2]

4am to 11am - Breakfast

11am to noon - Brunch

Noon to 2.30pm - Lunch

2:30pm to 4pm - Late lunch

4pm to 5pm - Early dinner

5pm to 9pm - Dinner

9pm to 11pm - Late dinner

11pm to 1am - Midnight snack

1am to 4am - The Munchies

[AyChingao]

This is further proof that Brits are hobbits, who also have second breakfast... elevenses...

[purplepoppy]

Elevenses sounds nicer than brunch

[AyChingao]

Elevenses, makes me smirk a little this word. Little touch of whimsy there. Not sure about rolling and tongues... just a bit of fun

[jennifer_bloom]

In the mornings, I drink tea designed to calm me down since cortisol levels are highest in the morning, and at night, I drink tea to help with digestion so I can burn body fat faster.

[Iron_Man]

Thats too much and how do you have time for all that especially when you’re working? it sounds to me like somebody would get awful fat eating that much. I eat one meal a day at nighttime then I have snacks later when I’m watching my shows or my Miami Dolphins 🐬 football 🏈 for a snack and that’s it

[Chazmatazz269]

It hurts my heart to learn that “second breakfast” and “elevensies” aren’t a part of your dining culture.

[Wiredone]

Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

Lunch is around noon and usually consist of a sandwich.

Supper/dinner is around 5 or 6pm and is a big meal. Anything after that is a snack

[WhitneySnow]

Dinner and supper are the same. Lunch is lunch. Teatime is late afternoon and is tea and cold sandwiches.

[Shiprex]

Supper always bedtime snack, teatime a cuppa and snack, lunch and meal or sandwich plus and dinner a proper meal

[robocop666]

I dont know I just eat what I want. I want a venison burger with chips/fries now.