bazaar
buh-ZAHR
/bəˈzɑːr/
A market in a Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian country; a large shop selling many different things.
Evokes a sense of chaos, variety, and traditional commerce rather than a modern supermarket.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Persian 'bāzār', which traces back to the Pahlavi word 'wāzār', meaning 'market'. It entered English via Italian and French in the 16th century.
Word relationships
- marketplace: Marketplace is a general term; bazaar specifically implies the style of Eastern markets.
- souq: Souq is the specific Arabic word for a bazaar.
- supermarket: A modern, organized, fixed-price retail environment.
Commonly confused with
- bizarre: Bizarre means strange; bazaar is a market. They sound identical.
Collocations
- open-air bazaar
- charity bazaar
- bustling bazaar
Example sentences
- "The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a labyrinth of over four thousand shops." Describing a famous location.
- "The church held a Christmas bazaar to raise money for the new roof." Describing a local event.
Memory hook
A bazaar is where you see 'bizarre' things for sale. The market of a thousand stalls.
When not to use
Avoid using for a sterile, modern shopping mall unless being metaphorical.
Fun facts
- The Khan el-Khalili in Cairo is one of the world's oldest bazaars, dating back to 1382.
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