supper / evening meal
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supper
The main meal eaten in the evening. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it traditionally often consists of bread with cold cuts, cheese, and salad.
Bei uns gibt es meistens gegen 18 Uhr Abendbrot.
At our place, we usually have supper around 6 p.m.
The word is a compound of 'der Abend' (the evening) and 'das Brot' (the bread). The name shows how important bread traditionally is for this meal.
Für das Abendbrot kaufe ich noch schnell ein frisches Brot.
I'll quickly buy a fresh loaf of bread for supper.
'Abendbrot' (supper/evening meal) often refers to a specific, traditional meal in German-speaking countries. It is frequently a cold meal with bread, cheese, sausage/cold cuts, and vegetables, not necessarily a hot, cooked dish.
Zum Abendbrot gibt es heute eine Auswahl an Käse und dazu Tomaten.
For supper today, there will be a selection of cheeses and some tomatoes with it.
You use 'zum Abendbrot' (for supper) for the meal itself, for example when eating something, and 'beim Abendbrot' (during supper) to express that something happens during the meal.
Was möchtest du zum Abendbrot trinken?
What would you like to drink with supper?
dinner
Abendessen and Abendbrot both refer to an evening meal. Abendessen is neutral and does not indicate whether the meal is hot or cold. Abendbrot is regional and more traditionally associated with bread, cold cuts, cheese, and salad; it fits especially well with this particular selection of food.
Heute gibt es zum Abendbrot Brot mit Käse, Aufschnitt und Salat.
Today, we are having bread with cheese, cold cuts, and salad for supper.
Heute gibt es zum Abendessen eine warme Suppe mit Gemüse.
Today, we are having hot vegetable soup for dinner.
