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I ragazzi vanno al supermercato.

I ragazzi vanno al supermercato.
The boys go to the supermarket.
From Lesson 46:Articulated prepositions with a (al, alla)·Italian

Questions & Answers about I ragazzi vanno al supermercato.

Why is it al instead of just a il?
In Italian, when the preposition a (to/at) is followed by a definite article like il (the), they combine to form a single word called an articulated preposition. Because supermercato is a masculine singular noun starting with a consonant, it uses the article il. So, a + il becomes al.
Where does the word vanno come from?
Vanno is the "they" form of the verb andare (to go). Andare is a highly irregular verb, which is why vanno looks so different from its base dictionary form.
Does i ragazzi only mean "the boys", or can it include girls too?
It can mean both! In Italian, the masculine plural is used for any mixed group of males and females. If the group going to the supermarket was entirely female, they would be le ragazze. But if there is even one boy in the group, it becomes i ragazzi (the kids or the young people).
Why do we use al (to the) here instead of a form of in?
The verb andare (to go) pairs with different prepositions depending on your destination. While some places require the preposition in (like countries or places ending in -ia), everyday places like the supermarket, the cinema, or the market require the preposition a. Combined with the article il, you get al supermercato.

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