The word super in Spanish

Question

I'm curious about the use of the word Super in Spanish, such as Supermercado. Has this always (for a given value of always) been a Spanish word or has it become part of the language through Spanglish at some point.

Answer 1

Hola!

Excellent question.

Here is the etymology of the word "supermercado".

The "super" is derived from the English prefix "super", so you could say it is a little bit of Spanglish

No, it is not: both "super" and "mercado" com from Latin, and were in our language before in English. - lazarus1907, Aug 2, 2011

Answer 2

Has this always (for a given value of always) been a Spanish word or has it become part of the language through Spanglish at some point.

Both "super" and "mercado" have always been in Spanish more than a millennium before they became part of English.

The "super" is derived from the English prefix "super", so you could say it is a little bit of Spanglish wink

Spanglish?? You don't have to go very far: the preposition "sobre" (above) in Spanish comes from the Latin "super", and it is attested in the 11th century. Other examples are "soberano" (sovereign), "sobrio" (sober), sobrar (surpass, remain)...

superar = to get over/past

superior = superior

superficie = surface

superlativo = superlative

superproducción = overproduction

superponer = superimpose

superintendente = superintendent

superpotencia = superpower

supervivencia = survival

superficial = superficial

superíndice = superscript

Note that words like "surface" do not have the "super" (but "sur") because they have been taken from French, which like Spanish, it comes directly from Latin.

Answer 3

The R A E credits its Latin roots and doesn't say anything about it being adopted from the English language.

super-.

(Del lat. super-).

• 1) elem. compos. Significa 'encima de'. Superestructura.

• 2) elem. compos. Puede significar también 'preeminencia' o 'excelencia'. Superintendente, superhombre, superdotado.

• 3) elem. compos. Significa 'en grado sumo'. Superfino.

• 4) elem. compos. Significa 'exceso'. Superproducción.

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thank you - elainepnj, Aug 2, 2011

Answer 4

Thank you Sonrisa. That's a great source. I wish they had more information, like around what era the words were derived.

Closer to the answer to my question is the entry for super http://www.myetymology.com/spanish/súper.html

which shows that the Spanish prefix "super" is derived from the Medieval Latin prefix super- which leads me to believe that super is just as much a part of the Spanish language as it is English

Answer 5

Sí, y además ¡super guay! y ¡estoy super feliz! y más. Es una pregunta interesante pero no sé. ¿La palabra "super" siempre ha sido en inglés?

No, it hasn't. - lazarus1907, Aug 2, 2011

well there you go :) - mistermouse, Aug 3, 2011