der
Supermarkt
🛒 What exactly is a Supermarkt?
A Supermarkt (noun, masculine) is a large self-service store primarily selling groceries and everyday household items. In contrast to smaller shops (like a Tante-Emma-Laden - a traditional corner shop), a Supermarkt offers a wide range of products in a larger retail space.
The word is a compound of super (meaning 'great', 'above') and Markt (market).
Since there is only one article (der), there's no confusion about meaning based on the article. 🚨 Always make sure to use der Supermarkt.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Supermarkt
The word "Supermarkt" is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der Supermarkt | ein Supermarkt |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des Supermarktes / Supermarkts | eines Supermarktes / Supermarkts |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem Supermarkt / Supermarkte | einem Supermarkt / Supermarkte |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den Supermarkt | einen Supermarkt |
Note: In Genitive and Dative singular, forms with and without '-e' are possible, though the shorter form is more common today.
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Supermärkte | Supermärkte |
| Genitive | der Supermärkte | Supermärkte |
| Dative | den Supermärkten | Supermärkten |
| Accusative | die Supermärkte | Supermärkte |
Example Sentences
- Ich gehe schnell in den Supermarkt, um Milch zu kaufen. (I'm quickly going to the supermarket to buy milk. - Accusative)
- Der Supermarkt um die Ecke hat bis 22 Uhr geöffnet. (The supermarket around the corner is open until 10 PM. - Nominative)
- Die Auswahl des Supermarktes ist riesig. (The supermarket's selection is huge. - Genitive)
- Wir treffen uns vor dem Supermarkt. (We'll meet in front of the supermarket. - Dative)
- In Deutschland gibt es viele verschiedene Supermärkte. (There are many different supermarkets in Germany. - Nominative Plural)
🗣️ How to use 'Supermarkt'?
The word "Supermarkt" is very commonly used in everyday language when talking about shopping for groceries and household goods.
- Typical Collocations: You gehen in den Supermarkt (go to the supermarket), kaufen im Supermarkt ein (shop at the supermarket), talk about die Angebote des Supermarktes (the supermarket's special offers) or die Kassenschlange im Supermarkt (the checkout queue at the supermarket).
- Context: It denotes a specific type of store, larger than a Kiosk (kiosk) or a small grocery store, but often smaller than a Hypermarkt (hypermarket) or SB-Warenhaus (large self-service department store), although the lines can sometimes blur.
- Differentiation:
- Discounter: A type of store focusing on low prices and often a more limited range of products (e.g., Aldi, Lidl). Many people colloquially refer to discounters as Supermärkte too.
- Wochenmarkt: An open-air market, usually held on specific days, often offering fresh, regional products.
- Tante-Emma-Laden: A very small, often owner-operated grocery store with a limited selection (rare nowadays).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Mnemonic for the article 'der':
Think of der Markt (the market). A Supermarkt is just a super large market – and 'Markt' is masculine. So it's der Supermarkt.
Mnemonic for the meaning:
A super amount of goods in one place – that's der Supermarkt! You'll find (almost) everything on your shopping list here.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Verbrauchermarkt: Often used synonymously, sometimes for larger stores.
- SB-Warenhaus / Hypermarkt: Usually refers to even larger stores with a very broad range of products beyond groceries (e.g., clothes, electronics). 'SB' stands for Selbstbedienung (self-service).
- Lebensmittelgeschäft: A more general term, can also include smaller shops ('grocery store').
- (Colloquial): Laden, Geschäft (shop, store)
Antonyms (conceptual opposites):
- Tante-Emma-Laden: Small, personal shop (opposite of size and anonymity). 'Aunt Emma Shop'.
- Wochenmarkt / Bauernmarkt: Often outdoors, focus on freshness and regionality, not the same self-service concept ('weekly market / farmers' market').
- Spezialitätengeschäft: Focuses on a specific product category (e.g., Bäckerei 'bakery', Metzgerei 'butcher shop').
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- Markt: Can mean a weekly market, a market square, or even a figurative market (e.g., Arbeitsmarkt 'job market').
- Discounter: A specific type of supermarket focusing on low prices.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum nehmen Skelette im Supermarkt immer einen leeren Einkaufswagen?Weil sie keine Organe haben, um ihn zu füllen! 😄
English: Why do skeletons always take an empty shopping cart at the supermarket?Because they have no organs to fill it! 😄
✍️ Poem about the Supermarket
German:
Im Supermarkt, hell und groß,
fängt die Einkaufstour erst los.
Regale hoch, die Gänge breit,
für Essen und für Kleinigkeit.
Obst und Gemüse, frisch und bunt,
machen den Speiseplan gesund.
Milch und Käse, Brot und Saft,
hier tankt man neue Lebenskraft.
An der Kasse, kurz gewartet,
mit vollen Tüten heim gestartet.
English Translation:
In the supermarket, bright and large,
the shopping trip begins its charge.
Shelves are high, the aisles are wide,
for food and small things kept inside.
Fruit and veggies, fresh and bright,
make the meal plan healthy, right.
Milk and cheese, and bread and juice,
here one finds new vital use.
At the checkout, a short wait,
then home with full bags, feeling great.
❓ A Little Riddle
German:
Ich habe Gänge, aber keine Füße.
Ich habe viele Kassen, aber kein Geld.
Man füllt bei mir Körbe und Wagen,
um den Hunger und Durst zu verjagen.
Was bin ich? (Lösung: Der Supermarkt)
English Translation:
I have aisles, but no feet.
I have many checkouts, but no money.
People fill baskets and carts inside me,
to chase away hunger and thirst, you see.
What am I? (Answer: The Supermarket / Der Supermarkt)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Supermarkt" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Super-: A prefix meaning 'large', 'extensive', or 'superior'. It originates from Latin.
- Markt: The base word, meaning a place of trade ('market').
Trivia:
- The first supermarkets emerged in the USA in the 1930s.
- Well-known supermarket chains in Germany include Edeka, Rewe, Kaufland (often more like hypermarkets), while Aldi and Lidl are classified as discounters.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Supermarkt?
The word "Supermarkt" is always masculine. The correct article is der Supermarkt (in the nominative singular). The plural form is die Supermärkte.