In Germany, is Abendessen a heavier meal than Abendbrot?

Question

I've read that Abendbrot is a sort of light snack of a meal, often eaten earlier than the fuller dinner or supper known as Abendessen. Is this true? Or do the two words mean much the same thing? If I'm invited to Abendessen, does this imply a greater formality than being invited to Abendbrot?

Answer 1

It's the same thing, but "Abendbrot" is a more old-fashioned and these days northerly idiom for dinner. It is still commonly used by northern Germans and means exactly the same thing as Abendessen. In case you're referring to the British distinction between dinner and supper as a possible parallel, I can assure you this is not the case.

So, to wrap it up:

Abendessen is official high German, Abendbrot is more vernacular, and used in the North.

Answer 2

Abendbrot is the same as Abendessen.  At my house, it was usually the leftovers warmed up from Mittagessen,( the main meal of the day eaten at lunch time)  plus bread (Brot) and butter.

Abendbrot could be eaten from paper plates ( fat chance at my mother's house), but Abendessen always involved a tablecloth and napkins and china plates.

Bring flowers for the lady of the house; it shows good manners.

Answer 3

Yes. Abendbrot ist a light snack - often simply a piece of bread with sausage and/or vegetable. Abendessen is  something less "light" - often a warm meal.

Answer 4

The word itself doesn't say anything about whether it's a light snack or a full-blown meal. Abendbrot is a bit dated and onöly used in some regions these days. Anybody issueing a dinner invitation is bound to use Abendessen.

Answer 5

Depends on where you hear the words I suppose. Id say its pretty much the same. However, I basically never use "Abendbrot" as its rather old-fashioned and distinctive in its use (youd come across to me as someone outdated). This is how we use it in my region though. So all other answers will apply to other areas of Germany/ Austria etc and you mightn be able to find a versatile answer.

Answer 6

You're on to something there, but the distinctions between the two are much more subtle. While "Abendbrot" has a very straightforward connotation, "Abendessen" is the more versatile word:

"Abendbrot" always refers to a regular, everyday dinner at home.

"Abendessen" can also refer to an everyday dinner at home in the exactly same way. But it can also imply a "dinner event" of some sort, ranging from a barely organized dinner where you have friends over to a full-blown dinner party. Also, "Abendessen" is the word used for eating out. At a restaurant, you almost always take "Abendessen", not "Abendbrot".