Dinner
A meal whose timing and meaning have shifted across centuries and cultures.
Dinner is a term that in many Western cultures refers to the largest and most formal meal of the day. Historically, the largest meal was eaten around midday and called dinner, but among the elite it gradually moved to later in the day between the 16th and 19th centuries. The word has different meanings depending on culture and may refer to a meal of any size at any time.
- Historical shift
- Largest meal moved from midday to evening over 16th–19th centuries
- 17th-century example
- Louis XIV dined at noon, supper at 10:00 pm
- Modern UK average dinner time
- 7:47 pm
- Modern US average dinner time
- 6:19 pm peak
Lore & Background
The word 'dinner' derives from the Old French 'disner' (c. The Romanian 'dejun' and French 'déjeuner' retain this etymology, while Spanish 'desayuno' and Portuguese 'desjejum' are related but used exclusively for breakfast. Over time, the term shifted to refer to the heavy main meal of the day, even if preceded by breakfast or lunch.
Reader's Guide
Dinner's significance lies in its long evolution from a midday meal to an evening one, reflecting changes in work practices, lighting, financial status, and cultural norms. In the 17th century, Louis XIV dined at noon; by the 18th century, King George III dined at 4:00 pm. During the 19th century, English middle-class dinners moved to 5:00 or 6:00 pm, while the elite pushed the hour later. The term still varies: in many modern Western cultures, dinner is the evening meal, but in parts of the UK, especially among working-class communities, it can refer to the midday meal. Special occasions such as Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner retain the older meaning of a main meal at any time of day. Dinner parties range from basic meals to formal state dinners, with historical examples including Roman convivia and Victorian London's formal gatherings.
Did You Know?
- The word 'dinner' originally meant 'to break one's fast', from Latin 'dis-' (reversal) and 'ieiunare' (to fast).
- A survey found the average evening meal time in the UK to be 7:47 pm.
- In the US, dinner time peaks at 6:19 pm, with Pennsylvania eating earliest (5:37 pm) and Washington, D.C. latest (7:10 pm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dinner?
Dinner is the term used in many Western cultures for the day's largest and most formal meal. In practice, though, the word's meaning shifts across cultures and can refer to a meal of any size taken at any hour.
Why did dinner shift from midday to the evening?
The biggest meal of the day was traditionally eaten around noon, but among the upper classes it gradually moved later between the 16th and 19th centuries. That slow transition is what eventually made the evening the standard dinner window in most Western societies.
What time do people typically eat dinner in the UK versus the US?
In the modern UK the average dinner time sits around 7:47 pm, while in the US the peak dinner hour is closer to 6:19 pm. The gap reflects how the meal's timing has settled into different daily rhythms depending on the country.
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