PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 3
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 11, 2000)

                        GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

     $172,500,000 of 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 and
  11,093,248 Shares of Common Stock Issuable upon Conversion of the Notes

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         This prospectus supplement no. 3 supplements and amends the
prospectus dated February 11, 2000, as amended by prospectus supplement no.
1 dated February 22, 2000 and prospectus supplement no. 2 dated March 1,
2000, relating to the 5 3/4 % Convertible Subordinated Notes due December
15, 2006 of General Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware corporation, held by
certain securityholders who may offer for sale the notes and the shares of
our common stock into which the notes are convertible at any time at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale or at privately negotiated prices.
The selling securityholders may sell the notes or the common stock directly
to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.

                     ADDITIONAL SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

         The following represents an addendum to the table of selling
securityholders appearing on pages 55-57 of the prospectus, as supplemented
and amended:

                                                       COMMON
                                                        STOCK           COMMON
                                     PRINCIPAL         ISSUABLE          STOCK
                                     AMOUNT OF           UPON            OWNED
                                       NOTES          CONVERSION         AFTER
                                    BENEFICIALLY       OF THE         COMPLETION
                                     OWNED AND        NOTES AND         OF THE
         NAME                     OFFERED HEREBY    OFFERED HEREBY     OFFERING
         ----                     --------------    --------------    ----------


Marlin Fund, LP                    $1,251,000           80,450            -
Marlin Fund Offshore, Ltd.          1,749,000          112,475            -
Salomon Brothers Asset
  Management, Inc.                    300,000           19,292            -


         The prospectus, together with prospectus supplement no. 1,
prospectus supplement no. 2, and this prospectus supplement no. 3,
constitutes the prospectus required to be delivered by Section 5(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to offers and sales of the
notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes. All
references in the prospectus to "this prospectus" are hereby amended to
read "this prospectus (as supplemented and amended)."

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         NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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          THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS MARCH 21, 2000