grande magazzino
Vado al grande magazzino per comprare un nuovo televisore.
I'm going to the department store to buy a new TV.
A large retail establishment offering a wide variety of goods organized into departments, such as clothing, electronics, and household items.
Il grande magazzino in centro offre sconti su tutti i prodotti questa settimana.
The department store in the city center is offering discounts on all products this week.
Ho trovato un ottimo affare per delle scarpe al grande magazzino vicino a casa mia.
I found a great deal on shoes at the department store near my house.
In Italy, 'grande magazzino' typically refers to chains like La Rinascente or Coin, which are mid-to-high-end department stores.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'supermercato'
'Grande magazzino' is not the same as 'supermercato' (supermarket). The former offers a broader range of non-food items and is organized by departments, while the latter focuses primarily on groceries.
Gold Rule
Usage context
Use 'grande magazzino' for traditional department stores. For modern shopping malls with multiple stores, use 'centro commerciale'.
Word Origin
Composed of 'grande' (large, big) and 'magazzino' (warehouse/store), reflecting the large-scale retail model where goods are displayed in departments like in a warehouse.
Usage Notes
While 'grande magazzino' is the standard term, 'centro commerciale' (shopping center) is more commonly used in modern contexts, especially for larger malls. 'Grande magazzino' often implies a single building with multiple departments under one roof.