verkaufen
to sell
To transfer something into another person's possession in exchange for payment.
EXAMPLE
Er will sein altes Auto verkaufen, um sich ein neues zu kaufen.
He wants to sell his old car in order to buy a new one.
verkaufen
to sell
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Meanings
jemanden für dumm verkaufen
to take someone for a fool
To try to deceive or cheat someone by treating them as simple-minded.
EXAMPLE
Willst du mich für dumm verkaufen? Ich weiß genau, dass das nicht stimmt.
Are you trying to take me for a fool? I know perfectly well that that's not true.
sich verkaufen
to sell oneself
To present oneself in a certain way in order to make a (usually positive) impression, e.g., in a job interview.
EXAMPLE
Im Vorstellungsgespräch ist es entscheidend, sich gut zu verkaufen.
In a job interview, it is crucial to sell yourself well.
verkaufen
to sell out
Figuratively, to betray ideals, principles, or friends for personal advantage.
EXAMPLE
Manche Kritiker werfen dem Künstler vor, er habe seine Ideale für den kommerziellen Erfolg verkauft.
Some critics accuse the artist of having sold out his ideals for commercial success.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verkaufen' (to sell) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'kaufen' (to buy) in all tenses and sentence positions.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihr altes Fahrrad gestern verkauft.
She sold her old bicycle yesterday.
Counterpart to 'kaufen'
'Verkaufen' (to sell) is the opposite of 'kaufen' (to buy). The prefix 'ver-' reverses the direction of the transaction here: with 'kaufen', something comes to you; with 'verkaufen', something goes away from you.
EXAMPLE
Ich kaufe ein Buch.
I buy a book.
Sentence structure with two objects
When you say whom you are selling something to, the person is in the dative and the thing is in the accusative. The structure is: subject sells [person in dative] [thing in accusative].
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer verkauft dem Kunden frisches Gemüse.
The farmer sells the customer fresh vegetables.
Reflexive use
In the reflexive form 'sich verkaufen' (to sell oneself), the verb means to present oneself in a certain way. It is often combined with adverbs like 'gut' (well) or 'schlecht' (poorly).
EXAMPLE
Für den Job musst du lernen, dich besser zu verkaufen.
For the job, you have to learn to sell yourself better.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemanden für dumm verkaufen' (to take someone for a fool) is a fixed unit. It means to think someone is naive and to try to deceive them.
EXAMPLE
Glaubst du wirklich diese Ausrede? Lass dich nicht für dumm verkaufen!
Do you really believe that excuse? Don't let yourself be taken for a fool!
Compare with
verkaufen vs anbieten
to offer
Both words can be used for goods in a store, but verkaufen (to sell) refers to the concrete transfer of an item in exchange for money. Anbieten (to offer), on the other hand, emphasizes that a product is part of the store's range and available for purchase, even if nobody has bought it yet. Use anbieten for the range of products and verkaufen for a completed sale.
verkaufen
Die Verkäuferin verkaufte mir das letzte Fahrrad aus dem Geschäft.
The saleswoman sold me the last bicycle in the store.
anbieten
Unser Geschäft bietet dieses Fahrrad seit Montag im Sortiment an.
Our store has been offering this bicycle as part of its range since Monday.
In real life
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