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A very large self-service store offering a wide range of food and non-food products, typically larger than a supermarket.
L'ipermercato vicino a casa mia vende anche abbigliamento e articoli per la casa.
The hypermarket near my home also sells clothing and household items.
The term 'ipermercato' is a direct Italian compound of 'iper-' (hyper-) and 'mercato' (market), reflecting its large-scale nature. It is commonly used in Italian retail contexts.
Remember that 'ipermercato' refers to a very large store (often over 2,500 m²) with a wide range of products, while 'supermercato' is smaller and typically focuses on food items.
Use 'ipermercato' when referring to a large retail store that sells both food and non-food items, such as clothing, electronics, and household goods. It is not used for small convenience stores or specialized shops.
From Italian 'iper-' (hyper-, indicating excess or large scale) + 'mercato' (market), coined in the mid-20th century to describe large-scale retail stores.
The term is widely used in Italy and other Italian-speaking regions to refer to large retail stores. It is not interchangeable with 'supermercato' (supermarket), which is smaller in size and product range.