Etymology Map
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Supper

3 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means an evening meal, often a light one

Where does the word "supper" come from? It comes from Old French super, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
super
Old French · medieval
"to have the evening meal"
a verb from a Germanic root, 'to sup', eating liquid food such as broth with bread
2
Stage 2 of 3
soper
Middle English · 1200s
"the evening meal"
the French infinitive was used as a noun, as with 'dinner'
3
Stage 3 of 3
supper
English · 1500s
"a light evening meal"
survives as a lighter, late meal wherever 'dinner' has taken over the evening
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Read the full story

Supper’s story begins in Old French: super meant “to have the evening meal.” A verb from a Germanic root, 'to sup', eating liquid food such as broth with bread. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as soper. The French infinitive was used as a noun, as with 'dinner'. It reached English by 1500s as supper. Survives as a lighter, late meal wherever 'dinner' has taken over the evening. Today, supper means an evening meal, often a light one.