A British friend says, "Come round for tea at six," and you arrive expecting a cup of tea and a biscuit, but there is a full meal on the table. In Britain, the evening meal has different names, and they change with region, family and age. Learners often translate directly and say "Let's eat the dinner" or "I am full of food". In this episode: • What's the meal called? • Getting it on the table • At the table and after • Bedtime • An evening at home • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: tea — the evening meal, often in the North of England and for children's early meal dinner — the evening meal, common in the South and for the main meal of the day supper (SUP-uh) — a light late meal, or the main evening meal for some families lunch — the midday meal dinner, at midday — some people call lunch "dinner", as in school dinners school dinners — hot meals cooked at school at lunchtime a cup of tea — the drink, which is also called tea What's for tea? — what are we eating this evening? (casual) It's on the table! — the food is ready, come now Come and get it! — the food is ready (casual) Tea's ready! — the evening meal is ready wash your hands — clean your hands before eating lay the table — put out plates, knives, forks and glasses set the table — the same as lay the table (neutral) Can you grab the water jug? — can you bring it quickly? (casual) Sit down, it's getting cold — eat now, before it cools Can you pass the salt, please? — (polite) Is there any more? — I'd like a second helping Eat your veg (VEJ) — eat your vegetables (casual) Real British English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — modern British accent, everyday grammar, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang, he/she/it for things, and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.