Learn Hardcore French: D'habitude, je vais au supermarché du centre-ville. - I usually go to the downtown supermarket.

It means usually/as a rule. It’s a fixed adverbial phrase built from de + habitude = “by habit.”
The apostrophe is elision: de becomes d’ before a vowel or silent-h word. Habitude begins with a silent h, so we write d’habitude.
Don’t confuse it with de l’habitude, which means “some experience” or “being used to something” (as in avoir de l’habitude de…).

Could I use Habituellement or Normalement instead of D'habitude?

Habituellement is a near-synonym of d’habitude and feels a bit more formal/literary.
Normalement means “normally/under normal circumstances.” It implies what’s expected rather than frequency. In many contexts it overlaps with “usually,” but it can suggest an exception is possible.

Is the comma after D'habitude required?

When an adverbial like D’habitude is fronted, French commonly inserts a comma. It’s recommended for clarity but not absolutely mandatory. You’ll also see Je vais au… d’habitude without a fronted comma.

Why is it au supermarché and not à le supermarché?

Au is the mandatory contraction of à + le. French always contracts:
- à + le → au
- à + la → à la
- à + l’ → à l’
- à + les → aux
Supermarché is masculine singular, so à + le supermarché becomes au supermarché.

Why is it du centre-ville and not de le centre-ville?

Du is the mandatory contraction of de + le.
Centre-ville is masculine singular: de + le centre-ville → du centre-ville.

What does du centre-ville add? Is it “in downtown” or “of downtown”?

It’s literally “of the downtown (area)” and functions like a label: the downtown supermarket (the one associated with downtown).
It identifies which supermarket you mean, not just where you’re going in space.

Could I say dans le centre-ville or en centre-ville instead?

Dans le centre-ville emphasizes location “inside the downtown area.”
En centre-ville is a common, concise way to say “in the downtown area.”
Compare:
- au supermarché du centre-ville = the downtown supermarket (the one that belongs to/serves that area).
- au supermarché dans le centre-ville / en centre-ville = a supermarket located in the downtown area (location-focused, not necessarily a unique, named place).

Can I move D'habitude to another position?

Yes:
- D’habitude, je vais… (very natural)
- Je vais d’habitude… (correct but feels heavier)
- Je vais… d’habitude. (common in speech; adds a slight “by the way/usually” afterthought)

Why present tense (je vais) for a habitual action? Could I use the imparfait?

The simple present in French often expresses habits, especially with frequency adverbs like d’habitude, souvent, toujours.
For a past habit, use the imparfait: D’habitude, j’allais au supermarché du centre-ville.

How should I pronounce the whole sentence?

D’habitude: “da-bee-tyood” (French u = say “ee” with rounded lips); the h is silent.
je vais: “zhuh veh” (final s in vais is silent).
au: “oh.”
supermarché: “syu-pehr-mar-shay.”
du: “dyu” (not “doo”).
centre-ville: “sahn-truh veel.”
No required liaison between vais and au.

Is centre-ville masculine or feminine? What about the hyphen and plural?

Centre-ville is masculine: le centre-ville, du centre-ville.
The hyphen is standard: centre-ville. The recommended plural is centres-villes (both parts take an -s).

Why choose du centre-ville over du centre de la ville?

Centre-ville is the established compound noun for “downtown/city center.” Du centre de la ville sounds wordy or overly literal in most contexts.

What’s the difference between supermarché, marché, épicerie, and hypermarché?

Supermarché: supermarket (self-service grocery, medium/large).
Marché: market, often open-air with stalls.
Épicerie: small grocery/convenience store.
Hypermarché: very large supermarket (hypermarket), usually on the outskirts.

Does au supermarché mean “to the” or “to a” supermarket?

Grammatically it’s “to the,” but in generic, habitual statements French often uses the definite article where English uses no article or “a.” So Je vais au supermarché naturally reads as “I go to the supermarket” in a general sense.

Could I just say Je vais au centre-ville if I mean “I go downtown”?

Yes. Je vais au centre-ville = “I’m going downtown.” The original sentence specifies the destination more precisely: the supermarket that’s associated with downtown.

Is there any register or tone issue with D'habitude vs other options?

D’habitude is neutral and very common in speech and writing.
Habituellement is a touch more formal.
Normalement carries the “under normal conditions” nuance and can imply exceptions.