How to Ask Where a Supermarket Is in German
Learn to ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in German, understand location words, and find grocery stores politely in German-speaking countries.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need groceries in a German-speaking town, the most useful question you can ask is whether a supermarket is nearby. This lesson teaches you the standard polite question, the words for supermarket and other grocery shops, and the location phrases you will hear in reply. You will practise a short exchange you can use with a passer-by, a hotel receptionist or a shop assistant, and you will learn how to understand directions such as 'left', 'right' and 'straight ahead'.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether there is a supermarket near here in German.
- name common grocery shops such as Supermarkt, Discounter and Bäckerei.
- understand and use basic location words like in der Nähe, links and rechts.
- hold a short polite exchange about finding a supermarket.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Supermarkt?
Is there a supermarket near here?
geept es heer in dair NAY-uh EYE-nen ZOO-per-markt
The standard polite question. Use it with strangers, hotel staff or shop assistants. 'Hier in der Nähe' means 'near here'.
Wo ist der nächste Supermarkt?
Where is the nearest supermarket?
voh ist dair NAYCH-stuh ZOO-per-markt
A direct alternative. 'Der nächste' means 'the nearest'. Use it when you expect one specific answer.
Ich suche einen Supermarkt.
I am looking for a supermarket.
ikh ZOO-khuh EYE-nen ZOO-per-markt
Useful when you want to explain your situation before asking for directions. Notice 'einen' because Supermarkt is masculine and here it is the direct object.
Ist das weit von hier?
Is that far from here?
ist das vahyt fon heer
Ask this after someone gives you a location. 'Weit' means 'far'; the answer may be 'Nein, ganz nah' (No, very close).
Gibt es auch einen Discounter in der Nähe?
Is there also a discount grocery store nearby?
geept es oukh EYE-nen DIS-kown-ter in dair NAY-uh
In Germany, a Discounter such as Aldi, Lidl or Netto is a small, cheap grocery store. Use this if you want a budget option.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Gibt es ...?' meaning 'Is there ...?'. The thing you are looking for goes in the accusative case after 'es'. Because 'Supermarkt' is masculine, you say 'einen Supermarkt', not 'ein Supermarkt'. Examples: 'Gibt es hier einen Supermarkt?' (Is there a supermarket here?), 'Gibt es hier eine Bäckerei?' (Is there a bakery here?), 'Gibt es hier ein Café?' (Is there a café here?). The article changes with the gender of the noun: einen for masculine, eine for feminine, ein for neuter.
When to use it
Use 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe ...?' when you are speaking to a stranger and want to sound polite and natural. It works in shops, hotels, train stations and on the street. If you already know roughly where you are going, 'Wo ist der nächste Supermarkt?' is shorter and equally polite. When someone answers, listen for location words: 'links' (left), 'rechts' (right), 'geradeaus' (straight ahead), 'an der Ecke' (at the corner), 'gegenüber' (opposite). For example: 'Der Supermarkt ist rechts, an der Ecke.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Supermarkt?
Excuse me, is there a supermarket near here?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, geept es heer in dair NAY-uh EYE-nen ZOO-per-marktJa, es gibt einen Supermarkt. Er ist gleich um die Ecke, rechts.
Yes, there is a supermarket. It is just around the corner, on the right.yah, es geept EYE-nen ZOO-per-markt. air ist glaykh oom dee EK-uh, rechtsDanke. Ist das weit von hier?
Thank you. Is that far from here?DAN-kuh. ist das vahyt fon heerNein, nur fünf Minuten zu Fuß. Der Supermarkt heißt 'Frischmarkt'.
No, only five minutes on foot. The supermarket is called 'Frischmarkt'.nahyn, noor fewnf min-OO-ten tsoo foos. dair ZOO-per-markt hahyst FRISH-marktA little context goes a long way
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, grocery shopping often happens at different types of shops. A 'Supermarkt' is a full supermarket, a 'Discounter' is a smaller budget chain, and a 'Bäckerei' sells bread and rolls. In Austria you may hear 'Greissler' for a small corner shop, and in Switzerland 'Coop' or 'Migros' are common chains. Using 'Entschuldigung' before your question is expected and polite.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Gibt es ein Supermarkt hier?'
Try this instead: Say 'Gibt es hier einen Supermarkt?' because 'Supermarkt' is masculine and the accusative form of 'ein' is 'einen'. The word order 'hier in der Nähe' is also more natural than placing 'hier' at the end.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Supermarkt?
This uses the polite 'Gibt es ...?' pattern with 'hier in der Nähe' and the accusative 'einen Supermarkt'. 'Gibt es hier einen Supermarkt?' is also correct and slightly shorter.
2You hear 'Der Supermarkt ist rechts, an der Ecke.' Where is the supermarket?
Show a sample answer
It is on the right, at the corner.
'Rechts' means 'right' and 'an der Ecke' means 'at the corner'. If the answer had been 'links', it would be on the left.
3Fill in the blank: Gibt es hier eine ______? (bakery)
Show a sample answer
Bäckerei
'Bäckerei' is feminine, so it takes 'eine'. The full question is 'Gibt es hier eine Bäckerei?' A valid alternative is 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Bäckerei?'
Use 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Supermarkt?' as your default polite question, and listen for 'links', 'rechts' and 'geradeaus' in the answer.
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