슈퍼마켓
syupeomaket[ɕʰupʰʌ̹ma̠kʰe̞t̚]
The English phrase "supermarket" is 슈퍼마켓 (syupeomaket) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 슈퍼 (syupeo).
Meaning: store (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 슈퍼마켓 | syupeomaket | [ɕʰupʰʌ̹ma̠kʰe̞t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 슈퍼 | syupeo | [ɕʰupʰʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to refer to a store.
Which one should you use?
While 슈퍼마켓 is the full loanword, 슈퍼 is a more colloquial and clipped version used in daily speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The shortened form 슈퍼 is commonly used in casual conversation instead of the full word 슈퍼마켓.
How do you pronounce it?
syupeomaket
Did you know?
- In many Korean neighborhoods, you might hear the term 구멍가게, which literally translates to 'hole-in-the-wall shop'. It is a traditional, endearing way to describe a tiny shop that functions much like a local 슈퍼.
- While 슈퍼 is a clipped version of 'supermarket', it is also the most common way to refer to a small, local neighborhood convenience store. In Korea, a 슈퍼 often implies a much smaller scale than the large, modern supermarkets found in shopping malls.
- Traditional Korean markets called 시장 often coexist alongside modern 슈퍼 stores in the same neighborhood.
Examples in context
- 내 친구는 슈퍼마켓에서 일해.My friend works at a supermarket.This sentence is useful for saying that a friend works at a 슈퍼마켓.Tatoeba #3718256 by kumdonghee, translation #3953888 by KoreanBeaver
- 그 슈퍼마켓은 가끔 세일 해.That supermarket sometimes has sales.This sentence is useful for mentioning that a 슈퍼마켓 sometimes has sales.Tatoeba #3718258 by kumdonghee, translation #3934861 by jm
- 슈퍼마켓 진짜 크다!What a big supermarket!This sentence is useful for commenting on how big a 슈퍼마켓 is.Tatoeba #11106019 by intertime, translation #24880 by CK
- 너 어제 슈퍼마켓에 갔어?Did you go to the supermarket yesterday?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are deciding where to buy snacks.
- 수빈 Su-bin우리 슈퍼마켓에 갈까요?uri syupeomaket-e galkkayo?Shall we go to the supermarket?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아요. 어디에 있어요?joayo. eodie isseoyo?Sounds good. Where is it?
- 수빈 Su-bin저기 앞에 슈퍼마켓이 보여요.jeogi ape syupeomaket-i boyeoyo.I see a supermarket over there.
- 민준 Min-jun빨리 가요, 민준 씨!ppalli gayo, Minjun ssi!Let's go quickly, Minjun!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “supermarket” translations and entries 슈퍼마켓, 슈퍼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
