Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Empujo el carrito del supermercado mientras él paga.

Spanish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Empujo (ending in -o) already means I push. You can add Yo empujo for emphasis, contrast, or clarity, but it isn’t required.

Is carrito the normal way to say shopping cart in Latin America?

Yes. Very common options:

carrito (del supermercado)
carrito de compras Regional notes:
Mexico/Chile: carrito or carro
Argentina/Uruguay: changuito (colloquial) Avoid carretilla here; that’s a wheelbarrow.

What does the -ito in carrito do?

It’s the diminutive suffix, often meaning small or conveying familiarity/affection. Carro → carrito. In this context, carrito has become the standard word for a shopping cart, not literally a “little car.”

Why is it del supermercado and not de el supermercado?

Spanish contracts de + el (the article) to del. So you must say del supermercado. Don’t confuse that with de él (of him), which never contracts because él is a pronoun: el carrito de él = his cart.

Could I say carrito de supermercado instead of carrito del supermercado?

Yes. Both are used. Without the article (de supermercado) sounds a bit more generic/classifying; with the article (del supermercado) is very idiomatic in everyday speech.

Why does él have an accent, but el sometimes doesn’t?

Él (with accent) is the pronoun he/him. El (no accent) is the article the. In the sentence you need the pronoun: mientras él paga. The accent stays even when capitalized: Él.

Do I need the subject él in mientras él paga, or can I drop it?

You can drop it, but you risk ambiguity. Mientras paga could be understood as while I pay (same subject as the main clause) or while he/she pays. Keeping él makes it clear two different people are acting.

Why use the simple present (Empujo, paga) instead of the progressive?

Spanish simple present commonly describes actions happening right now. Empujo el carrito… is natural. You can also use the progressive for extra focus on the ongoing action: Estoy empujando el carrito… mientras él está pagando, but many speakers keep it simple.

Does mientras take the subjunctive?

Temporal while (simultaneous actions): use the indicative → mientras él paga.
As long as (a condition): use the subjunctive → mientras él pague. Examples:
Real time: Empujo el carrito mientras él paga.
Condition: Te ayudo mientras pagues tú. (I’ll help as long as you’re the one who pays.)

Can I use mientras que here?

For time meaning while, plain mientras is most natural. Mientras que is also heard, but it often marks contrast (whereas): Él paga, mientras que yo empujo. Stick to mientras for neutral simultaneity.

Do I need a comma anywhere?

Main clause first: no comma → Empujo… mientras él paga.
If the mientras-clause comes first, use a comma → Mientras él paga, empujo…

How do I say he pays for it / the bill / the cashier?

Pay something (preferred): Él paga la cuenta.
Pay for something (also common in speech): Él paga por la cena.
Pay someone: Él le paga al cajero.
With a pronoun: Él lo paga (he pays it).

If I replace el carrito with a pronoun, which one do I use?

Lo, because carrito is masculine singular:

Lo empujo. With the progressive, both placements are fine:
Lo estoy empujando / Estoy empujándolo.

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

j in empujo sounds like a harsh English h.
rr in carrito is a trill; it’s written rr between vowels to keep the trill.
Stress: em-PU-jo; ca-RRI-to; su-per-mer-CA-do; ÉL PA-ga.

Could I use a different verb than empujar?

Yes. Llevar is very common: Llevo el carrito… (I’m taking/handling the cart). Empujar emphasizes the pushing action itself; llevar is broader (to carry/bring/take along).

Does el carrito mean a specific cart? What if I mean a cart in general?

El carrito suggests a specific, known cart (typically the one you’re using right now). For a nonspecific one, use un carrito: Empujo un carrito…