How to confuse a foreigner RE: Supermarkets

[HAL9000]

I was in America recently talking to a couple of people, I said I was looking for a supermarket and in some places people could not understand what I was saying, one guy tried telling me they don't sell soup but I can get some next door!

So is it uncommon in America?

P.S. This is NOT An America vs UK thread, nor is it an American English vs English thread. if you want to complain about someones country or language please take it elsewhere I'm not interested.

 

[ElFenix]

no, they're everywhere. except the ghetto.

 

[HAL9000]

no, they're everywhere. except the ghetto.

Hah, fair enough, While I'm sure they are everywhere I was just wondering if some places call them different things?

 

[Dominato3r]

Everyone I know calls them stores.

 

[Demo24]

I usually just say 'grocery store', but supermarket works and I would assume most people know what it is as long as they could understand what you said.

 

[moshquerade]

I was in America recently talking to a couple of people, I said I was looking for a supermarket and in some places people could not understand what I was saying, one guy tried telling me they don't sell soup but I can get some next door!

So is it uncommon in America?

P.S. This is NOT An America vs UK thread, nor is it an American English vs English thread. if you want to complain about someones country or language please take it elsewhere I'm not interested.

He was being silly. Of course he knew what a supermarket was, although i think maybe we use the term grocery store more.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The confusion probably lies in the fact that other than specialty stores and farmers markets, there are no grocery stores left. They are all supermarkets.

 

[HAL9000]

He was being silly. Of course he knew what a supermarket was, although i think maybe we use the term grocery store more.

Ahh good point the man did seem genuinely confused perhaps I had snagged my self a simpleton.

The confusion probably lies in the fact that other than specialty stores and farmers markets, there are no grocery stores left. They are all supermarkets.

I was told this but I couldn't find anywhere to buy fresh vegetables (I was in downtown Houston)

 

[gorcorps]

I've been all over the country and everybody knows what a supermarket is. It's also known as a grocery store, but supermarket is very common.

 

[ElFenix]

Ahh good point the man did seem genuinely confused perhaps I had snagged my self a simpleton.



I was told this but I couldn't find anywhere to buy fresh vegetables (I was in downtown Houston)

i think phoenicia just opened down there a couple months ago. it's a specialty market more than a general supermarket (no dry goods, iirc). nearest supermarket is south of downtown, a randall's. there's also spec's just south of downtown, another specialty market (it's a liquor store with a very large food selection).

 

[Leros]

People know what a supermarket is, although we generally just refer to them as "grocery stores".

 

[HAL9000]

i think phoenicia just opened down there a couple months ago. it's a specialty market more than a general supermarket (no dry goods, iirc). nearest supermarket is south of downtown, a randall's. there's also spec's just south of downtown, another specialty market (it's a liquor store with a very large food selection).

There was supposed to be a randalls, but I followed my iPhone to google earths location for it, and it was a building site, I asked someone who said "it's over there" then looked and said "oh"... I laughed.

 

[Ichinisan]

Everyone here calls it the "grocery store," but we all know it's a supermarket.

[edit]

People know what a supermarket is, although we generally just refer to them as "grocery stores".

This.

 

[moshquerade]

Ahh good point the man did seem genuinely confused perhaps I had snagged my self a simpleton.

perhaps, actually, more than perhaps :awe:

 

[HAL9000]

perhaps, actually, more than perhaps :awe:

Well I can't complain at least when talking to a simpleton I know they wont go onto a topic I know nothing about leaving me feeling inadequate. :$

 

[Brigandier]

America invented the supermarket.

 

[HAL9000]

America invented the supermarket.

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

 

[rcpratt]

Next time I see an obviously out-of-place Brit, remind me to start pretending like I don't understand incredibly common words.

 

[RedRooster]

I thought that word went out with the 80s? It sounds like something Heathcliff Huxtable would say. Hogies from the supermarket!

 

[HAL9000]

Next time I see an obviously out-of-place Brit, remind me to start pretending like I don't understand incredibly common words.

If possible go one further and say things like "Oh I see what you mean no over here we call carrots "orange sticks" or something like that, it will cause most amusement for both of you.

I thought that word went out with the 80s? It sounds like something Heathcliff Huxtable would say. Hogies from the supermarket!

Not so over here.

 

[zerocool84]

America invents everything.

ftfy

 

[HAL9000]

ftfy

With a few obvious exceptions.

 

[Ichinisan]

If possible go one further and say things like "Oh I see what you mean no over here we call carrots "orange sticks" or something like that, it will cause most amusement for both of you.



Not so over here.

I was eating some flurpy-durpy flim flam willy wizzits the just earlier today.

 

[Sid59]

i saw "Lucky", "Safeway", "Trader Joes", "Whole Foods", "Farmer's Market", or "Chinatown"

 

[HAL9000]

i saw "Lucky", "Safeway", "Trader Joes", "Whole Foods", "Farmer's Market", or "Chinatown"

Where? In Houston?