Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Supermarket in Spanish: Supermercado
Supermercado · noun (masculine) · soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh
Supermarket in Spanish is supermercado, a masculine noun that is easy to recognize as a cognate of the English word. In casual conversation, many Latin Americans shorten it to súper.
Supermercado is pronounced soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh, with the stress on the fourth syllable. The word follows standard Spanish pronunciation rules.
Voy al supermercado a comprar lo que necesitamos para la cena.
I'm going to the supermarket to buy what we need for dinner.
Supermarket in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for supermarket, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| supermercado | supermarket | soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh | Default, widely understood |
| súper | supermarket | informal shorthand in Latin America |
How Native Speakers Use Supermercado
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Grocery shopping
El supermercado cierra a las diez de la noche.
The supermarket closes at ten at night.
Checking store hours before heading out to shop.
Informal mention
Paso por el súper después del trabajo.
I'll stop by the supermarket after work.
Using the casual shortened form in a quick text or conversation.
Comparing stores
Este supermercado tiene mejores precios que el otro.
This supermarket has better prices than the other one.
Comparing grocery stores in the neighborhood.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Supermercado
Dropping the o at the end
Incorrect: Voy al supermercat.
Correct: Voy al supermercado.
Supermercado ends in -o like most masculine nouns; cutting it short may confuse it with Catalan or other Romance language forms.
Confusing tienda with supermercado
Incorrect: Compré todo en la tienda grande. (meaning supermarket)
Correct: Compré todo en el supermercado.
Tienda means store or shop in general terms, while supermercado specifically refers to a large self-service grocery store.
Lock in Supermarket Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Supermercado used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using supermercado in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Voy al supermercado a comprar lo que necesitamos para la cena. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Supermarket in Spanish
- How do you say supermarket in Spanish?
- Supermarket is supermercado (soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh) in Spanish, a near-perfect cognate that is recognized everywhere.
- What is the short form of supermercado?
- In casual speech, many Spanish speakers say el súper as a shorthand for supermercado, especially in Mexico and parts of Latin America.
- What is the difference between supermercado and tienda?
- A supermercado is a large self-service store with aisles of products, while a tienda can be any type of shop, from a small corner store to a clothing boutique.