Key Facts
- Hangul: 슈퍼마켓; Revised Romanization: syupeomaket
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Loanword
- Register: Neutral but longer form; in speech people usually say 슈퍼 or 마트.
Supermarket in Korean: What Does 슈퍼마켓 Mean?
슈퍼마켓 means supermarket. The register is neutral but long, so in speech people say 슈퍼 or 마트. 슈퍼 usually means a small neighborhood store. 마트 can name a large supermarket or a smaller grocery shop. Collocations include 슈퍼마켓에 가다 (to go to the supermarket), 대형 슈퍼마켓 (large supermarket) and 슈퍼마켓 직원 (supermarket staff).
How Do You Pronounce 슈퍼마켓?
Four syllables: syu, peo, ma, ket. It is borrowed from English, so the stress is even. The first syllable has a y glide. On its own the final ㅅ is a short, unreleased t (syu-peo-ma-ket), but before a vowel particle it is pronounced as s: 슈퍼마켓에 sounds like syu-peo-ma-ke-se.
Example Sentences with 슈퍼마켓
슈퍼마켓에 가요.
syupeomakese gayo.
I am going to the supermarket.
에 marks the destination and 가요 is go. It answers where you are heading.
슈퍼마켓이 집 근처에 있어요.
syupeomakesi jip geuncheoe isseoyo.
The supermarket is near my house.
The sentence places the shop near home with 근처에, and 있어요 says it exists there. Note the subject marker 이 after 슈퍼마켓.
슈퍼마켓에서 과일을 사요.
syupeomakeseseo gwaireul sayo.
I buy fruit at the supermarket.
에서 marks where the buying happens, and 사요 is the verb to buy. 과일을 is the thing you buy.
Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 슈퍼마켓에 가다 | to go to the supermarket |
| 슈퍼마켓에서 사다 | to buy at the supermarket |
| 대형 슈퍼마켓 | large supermarket |
| 슈퍼마켓 직원 | supermarket staff |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners use the full loanword in every situation.
- Less usual: 슈퍼마켓 every time in casual speech
- Correct: 슈퍼 (neighborhood store) or 마트 (supermarket or grocery store)
The full form is correct, but the short words are much more common in daily speech.
슈퍼마켓 Compared with 슈퍼 and 마트
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 슈퍼마켓 | supermarket | This page's word |
| 슈퍼 | small supermarket (short form) | The usual spoken short form for a neighborhood store. |
| 마트 | mart / grocery store | Common in speech for large supermarkets and smaller grocery shops. |
Finding a Shop for Milk
Mina asks a neighbor where to buy milk. Jisu answers with the shorter store word that fits the neighborhood shop.
Mina
이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?
I geuncheoe syupeomakesi isseoyo?
Is there a supermarket near here?
Jisu
네. 저기 작은 슈퍼가 있어요.
Ne. Jeogi jageun syupeoga isseoyo.
Yes. There’s a small neighborhood supermarket over there.
Mina
거기서 우유를 살 수 있어요?
Geogiseo uyureul sal su isseoyo?
Can I buy milk there?
Jisu
네. 저도 거기서 장을 봐요.
Ne. Jeodo geogiseo jangeul bwayo.
Yes. I do my grocery shopping there too.
슈퍼마켓 is clear in the question even though Jisu replies with 슈퍼. 거기서 means “there” as the place where buying happens. The last line uses 장을 봐요, a common expression for grocery shopping. It describes the errand rather than simply looking around the store.
Why Do People Say 슈퍼 or 마트?
슈퍼 is a shortened form of 슈퍼마켓. In neighborhood conversation, it often evokes a small shop for everyday groceries. The full word 슈퍼마켓 is still correct and understandable; using it is not a grammar mistake. You do not need to replace it with a different word merely to make your sentence polite.
마트 is another everyday store word. It can refer to large stores, but it also appears in names of smaller grocery shops. 대형 마트 explicitly means a large mart or large supermarket. The word 마트 alone does not guarantee that you will find a huge building or a particular chain.
편의점 means convenience store. A place selling drinks and snacks might be either a convenience store or a small supermarket, so the products overlap. The words identify different store types. If someone sends you to a 편의점, keep that word when you ask for the location rather than assuming every small shop is a 슈퍼.
집 앞 슈퍼 means “the supermarket in front of / close to home”. 집 앞 locates the shop by its relation to the speaker’s home rather than giving its business name. A neighbor may use this phrase when everyone already knows which small grocery shop is meant.
What Does 장을 보다 Mean?
장을 보다 means “to do the grocery shopping” or “to shop for household provisions”. 보다 literally means “to see”, but this whole expression describes shopping. It does not mean watching the supermarket. You can use it for a trip to a supermarket or a traditional market.
슈퍼마켓에서 장을 보다 combines the store with the errand. 에서 marks where you shop. Compare 슈퍼마켓에 가다, where 에 marks the destination. Going to the supermarket and doing the shopping there are two different parts of the outing.
계산하다 means “to pay / settle the bill” in the checkout situation. 계산대 names the checkout counter. Once you are inside a store, that location word is more useful than repeating 슈퍼마켓 when you need to find where to pay.
Words for Getting through a Grocery Trip
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 장바구니 | shopping basket | Holds your groceries while you shop. |
| 계산대 | checkout counter | Names the place where you pay. |
| 봉투 | bag | Helps you understand a question about a bag at checkout. |
| 영수증 | receipt | Names the receipt you receive after paying. |
The supermarket vocabulary lesson teaches the wider shopping set. These nouns take you from identifying the store to handling the purchase: carry the groceries, find the counter, then understand the words for a bag and receipt.
Quick Self-Test
- Is the full word 슈퍼마켓 grammatically wrong in casual conversation?
- Does 마트 always mean a large chain supermarket?
- What does 슈퍼마켓에서 장을 보다 mean?
Show answers
- No. 슈퍼 and 마트 are common shorter choices, but the full word is correct.
- No. Smaller grocery shops can also use 마트.
- To do the grocery shopping at the supermarket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "supermarket" in Korean?
Say 슈퍼마켓 (syupeomaket), though speakers often shorten it.
What is the difference between 슈퍼마켓 and 슈퍼?
슈퍼 is the short form and usually means a neighborhood store.
What is 마트?
마트 is a common word for a supermarket or grocery store, including large chains and smaller shops.
What does 슈퍼마켓 직원 mean?
It means supermarket staff.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the Korean Supermarket Vocabulary page puts 슈퍼마켓 beside its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 슈퍼마켓 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.