Spanish word

supermercado

Pronunciation

IPA/supeɾmeɾˈkaðo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsupermarket

Example

Compro en el supermercado cerca de mi casa.

I shop at the supermarket near my house.

Illustration for supermercado (supermarket)

More examples

Paso por el supermercado para comprar fruta.

I pop into the supermarket to buy fruit.

Core concept

A large self-service store with aisles of food, produce, meat, and household goods.

Common phrases

  • hacer la compra en el supermercado

    buy groceries at the supermarket

  • carrito del supermercado

    supermarket shopping cart

Similar words

mercado: Open-air or indoor market of stalls where sellers offer fresh foods and regional products.
tienda: Neighborhood convenience shop offering a few groceries and basic household needs.
hipermercado: Hypermarket combining a full grocery section with departments for apparel, electronics, and more.
minimercado: Tiny grocery store providing a compact assortment of everyday necessities.

Definition in Spanish

Establecimiento que vende principalmente alimentos y productos de uso diario organizados en secciones para que el cliente seleccione y pague por sí mismo.

Word origin

From Spanish super- "over, large" plus mercado (from Latin mercatus "market"), originally meaning a larger market and applied to big multi-department self-service stores.

Usage tips

  • Supermercado normally denotes a large self-service grocery chain or big store, while mercado often refers to an open-air market or collection of small vendors.

Opposites

  • tienda de barrioneighborhood storenoun

Related words

  • supermercadistasupermarket retailernoun

Word lists with this word