What is the Latin term for dinner?

The Latin term for dinner is "cena." In ancient Roman culture, cena referred specifically to the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening. It was an important social occasion, often involving multiple courses and a gathering of family and friends. The significance of cena is highlighted by its role in Roman dining customs and the structure of their meals, which typically included ientaculum (breakfast) in the morning, prandium (lunch) around midday, and then cena as the main meal later in the day.

The other terms provided represent different meals. Ientaculum denotes breakfast, typically a light meal taken in the morning. Prandium refers to lunch, usually a smaller meal compared to cena. Vesperna, while related, is not a classical term widely used in the context of Roman meals, and it is often considered a less common variant for evening meals. Thus, "cena" stands out clearly as the correct term for dinner in the context of ancient Roman culinary traditions.