What Is Lunch Dinner Called? Mealtime Names

The meal eaten between lunch and dinner goes by several names depending on where you live, the time you eat it, and how formal the occasion is. In the United States and Canada, the most common term is lunner (a blend of “lunch� and “dinner�), but it’s informal and not standard English. In other regions, the same meal might be called supper, high tea, or simply an early dinner. This article explains the real meanings, origins, and usage of these terms so you can choose the right word for your situation.

The Standard Terms: Lunch, Dinner, and Supper

In standard English, lunch is the midday meal, and dinner is the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening. However, the word supper traditionally refers to a lighter evening meal, often eaten after dinner or as the evening meal in rural and working-class communities. In many parts of the US, “dinner� and “supper� are used interchangeably for the evening meal, but “supper� carries a slightly more casual or old-fashioned tone. The distinction matters because what you call the meal between lunch and dinner depends on which of these words you already use for your other meals.

For example, if you eat “dinner� at noon (common in some farming communities), then the evening meal is “supper.� If you eat “lunch� at noon, then “dinner� is your evening meal. So the “between� meal is only a real concept for people who eat a late-afternoon meal—often called lunner informally.

What Is “Lunner�? Origin and Usage

Lunner is a portmanteau of “lunch� and “dinner,� first recorded in the early 20th century. It describes a meal eaten between the usual lunch and dinner times, typically between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. The word is informal and nonstandard—you won’t find it in most dictionaries as a formal entry, though it appears in slang dictionaries and casual writing. Its origin is straightforward: people combined the two meal names to describe a hybrid meal. You might hear someone say, “We had a late lunner at the café,� or “I’m not hungry for dinner because I had lunner at 3.� It’s used primarily in casual conversation, often humorously, and is more common in the US than elsewhere.

Regional and Cultural Alternatives

In the UK and parts of the Commonwealth, the late-afternoon meal is often called high tea. Historically, high tea was a working-class meal eaten around 5–6 PM, consisting of a hot dish, bread, and tea, served at a high table (as opposed to low tea, which was a lighter afternoon tea served on low tables). Today, “high tea� is sometimes used loosely to mean a fancy afternoon tea with sandwiches and pastries, but traditionally it was a substantial early dinner. In Australia and New Zealand, the evening meal is often called “tea� (e.g., “What’s for tea?�), so the between-meal might be called “afternoon tea� or just “a snack.� In some parts of the US, especially the South, the midday meal is “dinner� and the evening meal is “supper,� so the late-afternoon meal is simply “a snack� or “a bite.�

How to Choose the Right Word

Choosing the right term depends on your audience and context. Here are some guidelines:

Use “lunner� in casual, humorous, or social-media contexts where informality is fine. It’s not appropriate for formal writing or professional communication.
Use “high tea� if you’re referring to a traditional British-style early evening meal, but be aware that many people now associate it with a lighter, more elegant affair.
Use “supper� if you’re in a region where the evening meal is called supper, and you want to distinguish a lighter evening meal from a larger dinner.
Use “early dinner� when you want to be clear that you’re eating the main meal earlier than usual, without implying it’s a separate meal type.

Common Misconceptions About Meal Names

One common misconception is that “dinner� always means the evening meal. In reality, the word “dinner� originally referred to the main meal of the day, which was historically eaten at midday. Over time, as work schedules shifted, the main meal moved to the evening in many cultures. This is why older people or rural communities might still call the noon meal “dinner.� Another misconception is that “supper� is a fancy word for dinner—it’s not; it usually implies a lighter or more casual meal. Finally, “lunner� is sometimes thought to be a new internet invention, but it has been in use for over a century, though it remains informal.

Practical Usage in Sentences

To help you use these terms correctly, here are examples in context:

“We had a quick lunner at 3:30 because we skipped breakfast.� (informal)
“In our family, Sunday dinner is at 2 PM, and then we have a light supper at 7.� (standard)
“High tea at the hotel was served at 5 PM with finger sandwiches and scones.� (traditional)
“I’m not sure if I should call it lunch or dinner—let’s just say it’s an early dinner.� (casual)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “lunner� a real word?

Yes, “lunner� is a real word in the sense that people use it, but it’s informal and nonstandard. It’s not typically found in formal dictionaries, though it appears in slang dictionaries and online. If you’re writing a formal document, use “mid-afternoon meal� or “early dinner� instead.

What’s the difference between “dinner� and “supper�?

In modern usage, “dinner� is usually the main meal of the day, often eaten in the evening, while “supper� is a lighter evening meal. Historically, “dinner� was the midday meal, and “supper� was the evening meal, but that distinction has blurred. In some regions, the two words are used interchangeably.

Why do some people call lunch “dinner�?

This is a regional and generational holdover from when the main meal was eaten at midday. In farming communities and in older generations, “dinner� still means the noon meal, and the evening meal is called “supper.� It’s not wrong—it’s just a different convention.

What is a meal between lunch and dinner called in the UK?

In the UK, a late-afternoon meal might be called “high tea� if it’s substantial, or “afternoon tea� if it’s lighter with tea and snacks. However, many Brits would simply call it “a snack� or “a bite� rather than giving it a specific name.

Is there a formal term for a late-afternoon meal?

There is no widely accepted formal term for a meal between lunch and dinner. “Early dinner� is the most formal option, but it implies you’re eating the main meal earlier than usual, not a separate meal. “Mid-afternoon meal� is descriptive but not a set phrase.

Conclusion: Choose Based on Context

Ultimately, the word you use for the meal between lunch and dinner depends on your region, your audience, and the tone you want to set. “Lunner� is the most playful and informal, “high tea� carries cultural weight, and “supper� or “early dinner� are more standard. When in doubt, describe the meal rather than label it—saying “a late lunch� or “an early dinner� is always clear and correct. Now that you know the origins and nuances, you can pick the right term with confidence.

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