The word you probably know for 'dinner' in French is dîner, and for good reason—it's the most common one! But just as in English, where you might have 'supper', a 'feast', or a 'late-night bite', French offers more specific and nuanced ways to talk about the evening meal. Getting these terms right will not only help you understand social invitations better but will also make your French sound much more natural. Ready to expand your culinary vocabulary? Let's dive into 9 ways to say 'dinner' in French!

1. The standard 'dinner' – Le dîner

The most standard and common word for 'dinner' in French is le dîner.

Le dîner refers to the main evening meal. It is a masculine noun, so you always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as le dîner (the dinner) or un bon dîner (a good dinner).

The verb form is dîner, which means 'to have dinner' or 'to dine'. It's a regular '-er' verb. For example, « Nous dînons ensemble ce soir » means 'We are having dinner together tonight.'

Culturally, le dîner is a significant social and family meal in France. It is typically eaten later than in many English-speaking countries, often starting around 8 PM. It is considered the main meal of the day.

Do not confuse le dîner with le déjeuner, which means 'lunch'. While in some other French-speaking regions (like Quebec or Belgium) dîner can refer to the midday meal, in metropolitan France, it almost exclusively means the evening meal. In those other regions, the evening meal is often called le souper.

💡 * Qu'est-ce qu'on mange pour le dîner ? (What are we eating for dinner?)

• Je vous invite à dîner au restaurant. (I'm inviting you to have dinner at the restaurant.)
• Le dîner sera servi à 20 heures. (Dinner will be served at 8 PM.)
• Ils ont préparé un dîner délicieux. (They prepared a delicious dinner.)

The 'supper' (regional or old-fashioned) – Le souper

When learning the names for meals in French, you'll quickly come across le dîner for the evening meal. However, you may also encounter another word: le souper. While it also refers to an evening meal, its usage is much more specific and understanding it reveals nuances in French regional and historical language.

Le souper translates to 'supper'. In modern standard French (especially in France), it is considered either old-fashioned or regional. It often refers to a light meal eaten late in the evening, sometimes after an event like a show or party, distinguishing it from the main evening meal, le dîner.

Historically, the meal structure was different. Le dîner was the main meal eaten around midday, and le souper was the lighter evening meal. Over time, the midday meal became le déjeuner, and le dîner shifted to become the main evening meal, largely replacing le souper in common parlance in France.

Crucially, le souper is not old-fashioned everywhere. In certain French-speaking regions, it remains the standard term for the evening meal. You will hear it used commonly in Quebec, Switzerland, and Belgium. In these places, it is the direct equivalent of le dîner in France.

The verb form is souper, meaning 'to have supper'. A French person might say On va souper après le spectacle (We'll have a late supper after the show), implying a light, late meal. In contrast, a Québécois person would say On soupe à six heures (We have dinner at six) to refer to their regular evening meal.

💡 * Qu'est-ce qu'on mange pour le souper ce soir ? (Common in Quebec)

• Ma grand-mère dit toujours 'souper' au lieu de 'dîner'.
• En Belgique, les enfants rentrent de l'école avant le souper.
• Après le concert, nous sommes allés souper en ville.

The descriptive 'evening meal' – Le repas du soir

Another way to talk about dinner, especially when being descriptive, is with the phrase le repas du soir.

This term literally translates to "the meal of the evening." It's a very clear and unambiguous way to refer to the last main meal of the day.

Le repas du soir is less common in everyday, casual conversation than dîner. It's slightly more formal or descriptive. Think of it as the difference between saying "dinner" and "the evening meal" in English.

You'll often encounter this phrase in contexts where clarity is important, such as on hotel information, in written schedules, or when distinguishing it from other meals, like le repas du midi (the midday meal/lunch).

While dîner is your go-to word for 'dinner', knowing le repas du soir is useful for understanding more formal or descriptive French and adds precision to your vocabulary.

💡 * Qu'est-ce qu'on mange pour le repas du soir ? (What are we eating for the evening meal?)

• Le repas du soir est souvent plus léger que le déjeuner. (The evening meal is often lighter than lunch.)
• L'hôtel propose le petit-déjeuner et le repas du soir inclus. (The hotel offers breakfast and the evening meal included.)
• À quelle heure prenez-vous le repas du soir ? (At what time do you have your evening meal?)

The 'feast' or 'banquet' – Le festin

The 'feast' or 'banquet' – Le festin

Le festin directly translates to 'the feast' or 'the banquet'. It refers to a large, sumptuous, and celebratory meal prepared for a special occasion, suggesting abundance and joy.

This noun often carries a slightly formal or literary tone. It's perfectly suited for describing significant events like weddings, holiday gatherings, or historical banquets. Using le festin elevates the meal beyond a simple dinner.

The associated verb is festoyer, which means 'to feast' or 'to revel'. It captures the action of participating in such a grand meal. For instance, Nous avons festoyé toute la nuit means 'We feasted all night long'.

💡 * Le festin de mariage était absolument somptueux. (The wedding feast was absolutely sumptuous.)

• Après la victoire, l'équipe a eu droit à un vrai festin. (After the victory, the team was treated to a real feast.)
• Les contes de fées se terminent souvent par un grand festin au château. (Fairy tales often end with a grand feast at the castle.)
• Pour le réveillon, nous allons festoyer en famille. (For New Year's Eve, we are going to feast with family.)

The informal 'grub' or 'chow' – La bouffe

The informal 'grub' or 'chow' – La bouffe

La bouffe is a very common, informal slang term for 'food' in French. It's the direct equivalent of English terms like 'grub,' 'chow,' or 'eats'.

This is a word you'll hear constantly in everyday, relaxed conversations. While extremely common, you would typically use the more formal word la nourriture in professional settings or at a high-end restaurant.

The noun la bouffe is directly related to the informal verb bouffer, which means 'to eat' or 'to chow down.' It's a casual alternative to the standard verb manger.

Use la bouffe when talking about food in general or a specific meal among friends and family. It's a key part of sounding natural and fluent in casual French.

💡 * La bouffe est prête ! (The grub is ready!)

• J'en ai marre de la bouffe de la cantine. (I'm sick of the cafeteria food.)
• Qu'est-ce qu'on bouffe ce soir ? (What are we eating/chowing down on tonight?)
• Il pense seulement à la bouffe. (He only thinks about food.)

The hearty 'big meal' with friends – Le gueuleton

In French, if you're talking about a big, hearty, and often boisterous meal shared with friends or family, the perfect word is le gueuleton. It goes beyond a simple repas (meal) to describe a feast characterized by abundance, conviviality, and good times.

The term gueuleton comes from gueule, which is the word for an animal's mouth but is also used as informal slang for a person's mouth or face. This origin gives gueuleton a very earthy, informal, and jovial feel, emphasizing the act of eating and enjoying oneself without restraint.

A gueuleton is more than just food; it's a social event. Picture a long table filled with generous dishes, plenty of wine, loud conversations, and laughter. It's the opposite of a delicate, formal dinner and is all about sharing a moment of pure indulgence with loved ones.

This is a very informal term. You would use gueuleton when talking with friends or close family. It would be inappropriate in a business context or with people you don't know well. For a more neutral term, you could use un grand repas (a big meal) or un festin (a feast).

💡 * On se fait un bon gueuleton ce week-end ? (Are we having a big feast this weekend?)

• J'organise un gueuleton entre potes pour mon anniversaire. (I'm organizing a big meal with friends for my birthday.)
• Quel gueuleton hier soir ! On a trop mangé et trop bu. (What a feast last night! We ate and drank too much.)

The 'romantic dinner' – Le dîner en amoureux

The classic French phrase for a 'romantic dinner' is un dîner en amoureux. This literally translates to 'a dinner between lovers' and specifically implies a meal shared by a couple in a romantic context.

The phrase is built around the masculine noun un dîner (a dinner). The key component is en amoureux, which means 'as lovers'. This prepositional phrase describes the nature of the dinner. Note that amoureux here refers to the couple as a unit. This structure can also be used for other romantic activities, like un week-end en amoureux (a romantic weekend).

You can use this expression with common verbs like organiser (to organize), passer (to have/spend), or préparer (to prepare). It is the perfect term for describing date nights, anniversaries, or any special meal for two.

💡 * Pour notre anniversaire, nous allons avoir un dîner en amoureux. (For our anniversary, we are going to have a romantic dinner.)

• Il a préparé un dîner en amoureux pour la Saint-Valentin. (He prepared a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day.)
• Quoi de plus romantique qu'un dîner en amoureux à Paris ? (What is more romantic than a dinner for two in Paris?)

1. The 'business dinner' – Le dîner d'affaires

The 'business dinner' – Le dîner d'affaires

Le dîner d'affaires is the direct French translation for a 'business dinner.' It refers to a formal evening meal arranged for professional reasons, such as negotiating a deal, networking with clients, or discussing strategy with colleagues.

In France, business is often conducted over meals. A dîner d'affaires is typically more significant and formal than a déjeuner d'affaires (business lunch). It often signals an important stage in a business relationship, like closing a major deal or celebrating a partnership.

This term is straightforward and used in professional settings. Unlike casual expressions, its meaning is literal. You would use it to specifically describe a dinner meeting that is work-related.

💡 * J'ai un dîner d'affaires important ce soir avec des investisseurs.

• Le contrat a été signé à la fin du dîner d'affaires.
• Nous organisons un dîner d'affaires pour accueillir notre nouveau directeur.

1. The Concept of 'Le Casse-Croûte'

The term le casse-croûte literally translates to “break-crust” (from casser - to break, and croûte - crust). It refers to a quick, simple, and informal meal, similar to a 'snack,' a 'quick bite,' or a 'light meal.' It's not a formal, sit-down affair but rather something you eat to stave off hunger.

A casse-croûte can be eaten at any time of day. You might pack a casse-croûte for a hike, grab one during a work break, or have one on the road. It emphasizes speed and simplicity over culinary complexity. It's the French equivalent of grabbing a sandwich or a quick bite.

When you add du soir (of the evening), it specifically means a light evening meal or late-night snack. A casse-croûte du soir is what you have when you're not hungry enough for a full dîner (dinner) or when you get home late and need something simple before bed.

What does a casse-croûte consist of? Think simple. It's often a piece of baguette with cheese, pâté, or ham. It could also be a yogurt, a piece of fruit, or some leftovers. The key is that it's easy to prepare and eat without much fuss.

💡 * Je n'ai pas le temps de cuisiner, je vais juste me faire un casse-croûte. (I don't have time to cook, I'm just going to make myself a quick bite.)

• Pour le voyage en train, j'ai préparé un petit casse-croûte : un sandwich et une pomme. (For the train trip, I prepared a little snack: a sandwich and an apple.)
• Il est rentré tard du travail et a pris un casse-croûte du soir devant la télé. (He came home late from work and had a light evening meal in front of the TV.)
• Un morceau de fromage et du pain, c'est mon casse-croûte préféré. (A piece of cheese and some bread is my favorite snack.)

Are there other ways to say 'dinner' in French?

Are there other ways to say “dinner” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to talk about dinner in French, from the standard dîner to the regional souper. However, the French language is rich with culinary terms, including old-fashioned words, specific regionalisms, and modern slang you might overhear.

You can uncover more regional vocabulary by searching online for “comment on dit dîner en ___” and adding a French-speaking region like Quebec, Switzerland, or Belgium. You'll see how language adapts to local culture.

When you encounter a new synonym for dîner, pay attention to the context. Is it used for a casual family meal or a formal event? Seeing the word used in a French film or novel is a great way to understand its true meaning before you use it yourself.

As you continue to read, watch, and listen to French, keep an ear out for food-related conversations. You'll not only discover new vocabulary but also gain a deeper appreciation for the central role of meals in French culture.

For more vocabulary related to meals, dining, and French cuisine, exploring a dictionary like WordReference for the entry dîner or repas can provide a wealth of related terms and expressions.

I hope this guide has whetted your appetite for French vocabulary. To finish, here is a perfect quote from the celebrated French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin: Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es. (Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.) Bon appétit!