01
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
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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 los
go / loose
'los' in 'etwas loswerden' (to get rid of something) and 'verkaufen' can both mean that you no longer have an item. The important difference is: 'verkaufen' states clearly that you receive money for it. 'Etwas loswerden' emphasizes more that you no longer want the thing or manage to get rid of it. That can happen by selling it, but also by throwing it away or giving it away. Learners may confuse the words because 'loswerden' can sometimes also mean 'to sell'. If the money is important, 'verkaufen' is more precise.
verkaufen
Sie hat ihr altes Fahrrad für fünfzig Euro verkauft.
She sold her old bicycle for fifty euros.
los
Nach dem Flohmarkt bin ich endlich meine alten Bücher los.
After the flea market, I finally got rid of my old books.
In real life
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