to negotiate / to hear
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to negotiate
To talk and discuss with someone in order to reach an agreement, often in business or political contexts.
Die Gewerkschaften verhandeln mit den Arbeitgebern über höhere Löhne.
The unions are negotiating with the employers about higher wages.
When negotiating, it is important to use the right prepositions: you negotiate 'mit' someone (dative) 'über' a topic (accusative).
Wir verhandeln mit dem Kunden über den Preis.
We are negotiating with the customer about the price.
The context shows the exact meaning: 'mit Partnern' (with partners) or 'über Preise' (about prices) points to negotiations. 'Vor Gericht' (in court) refers to a legal case. 'An der Börse' (on the stock exchange) signals the trading of securities.
Der Mordfall wird ab Montag vor dem Landgericht verhandelt.
The murder case will be heard before the regional court starting Monday.
'Verhandeln' (to negotiate / to hear / to trade) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' is never separated from the stem 'handeln' (to act / to trade), not even in a main clause.
Morgen verhandelt er die Vertragsdetails mit der neuen Firma.
Tomorrow he will negotiate the contract details with the new company.
In financial contexts, 'verhandeln' (to trade) is often used in the passive to describe that goods or securities are being traded. The subject is then the good itself.
Gold wird an den internationalen Märkten in US-Dollar verhandelt.
Gold is traded in US dollars on international markets.
to act / trade
'handeln' and 'verhandeln' can both have to do with buying, selling, and prices. 'handeln' means to buy and sell goods. It can also mean bargaining or haggling over a price. 'verhandeln' means to talk with others until you reach an agreement, for example about a contract, a price, or conditions. In a financial context, 'verhandeln' can also refer to trading securities. The words are easy to confuse because both occur in business contexts. As a simple guide: 'handeln' is more about buying and selling; 'verhandeln' is more about talking and looking for a solution.
Wir verhandeln noch über den Preis, bevor wir den Vertrag unterschreiben.
We are still negotiating the price before we sign the contract.
Auf dem Markt handelt Mehmet mit alten Büchern und kleinen Möbeln.
At the market, Mehmet trades in old books and small pieces of furniture.