corner market

[KOR-ner MAR-kit]
nounpl: corner markets
mercadinho de esquina
1. A small retail grocery store or convenience store located at the corner of a street intersection, typically serving the immediate neighborhood with basic food items and everyday goods
I ran to the corner market to grab some milk and bread.
Corri para o mercadinho de esquina para pegar leite e pão.
2. A modest, independently-owned neighborhood shop that serves as a community gathering point and convenience source
The corner market has been run by the same family for three generations.
O mercadinho de esquina é gerenciado pela mesma família há três gerações.
Corner markets are iconic fixtures in American urban neighborhoods and Brazilian communities, serving as important social hubs where locals interact with owners and neighbors. In NYC, these establishments are almost exclusively called 'bodegas,' a term with Latin American roots. In Brazil, mercadinhos de esquina represent traditional neighborhood commerce and are valued for their personal service and community connection, though they face competition from supermarkets. These stores hold cultural significance beyond commerce, often serving as informal community centers.
NYC Slang
bodega (dominant term in NYC for corner convenience stores)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
convenience storeneighborhood storebodegagrocery storemom-and-pop storesmall market
Antonyms / Antônimos
supermarketchain storeshopping malldepartment store

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
mercadinho de esquina
most common term for small neighborhood markets
Rio de Janeiro
boca de açúcar / mercadinho
informal usage, 'boca de açúcar' refers to neighborhood shops
São Paulo
mercadinho / venda
'venda' is an older, more traditional term still used in outskirts
Portugal
loja de conveniência / pequeno supermercado
more formal terminology; less common concept in Portuguese culture

Related Words

bodegagroceryretailneighborhoodconveniencelocal business

Related Idioms & Phrases

run a corner market - gerir um mercadinho de esquina
corner market economy - economia local de pequenos comércios
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →