Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sell'

English Word: sell

Key Russian Translations:

• продавать [prədɐˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective Verb, Used for ongoing or repeated actions]
• продать [prəˈdatʲ] - [Formal, Perfective Verb, Used for completed actions]
• продажа [prɐˈdaʐə] - [Noun, Neutral, Used in contexts of sales events or processes]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday commerce, business discussions, and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, but basic forms are accessible to learners beyond beginner level. For 'продавать' and 'продать', both are B1; 'продажа' is A2.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

продавать: [prədɐˈvatʲ]

продать: [prəˈdatʲ]

продажа: [prɐˈdaʐə]

Note on продавать: The stress falls on the second syllable ('va'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'tʲ' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on продать: Similar to продавать, but the perfective aspect often shortens pronunciation in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To exchange goods or services for money (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• продавать - Used in contexts of ongoing selling, such as in a market or business routine (e.g., in informal or everyday conversations).
• продать - Applied to a completed sale, often in formal or transactional settings (e.g., legal or business documents).

Usage Examples:

• Я продаю книги в своём магазине каждый день.

  I sell books in my store every day. (Shows imperfective aspect in a routine context.)

• Он продал машину за хорошую цену.

  He sold the car for a good price. (Illustrates perfective aspect for a one-time event.)

• В этом магазине продают свежие фрукты и овощи.

  In this store, they sell fresh fruits and vegetables. (Demonstrates use in a general description.)

• Мы решили продать дом и переехать в город.

  We decided to sell the house and move to the city. (Context of decision-making and completion.)

• Интернет-магазин продаёт товары по всему миру.

  The online store sells products worldwide. (Applies to broader, ongoing commercial activities.)

Noun: The act or process of selling

Translation(s) & Context:

• продажа - Used for events, processes, or promotions, such as sales seasons or market activities (e.g., in commercial or advertising contexts).

Usage Examples:

• Сезонная продажа начинается завтра.

  The seasonal sale starts tomorrow. (Refers to a promotional event.)

• Продажа недвижимости в России регулируется законом.

  The sale of real estate in Russia is regulated by law. (Context of legal or formal processes.)

• Эта продажа принесла компании большой доход.

  This sale brought the company significant income. (Emphasizes the outcome of a selling process.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'продавать' (imperfective verb), it follows standard first conjugation patterns with variations by tense, person, and number. 'Продать' (perfective verb) has similar but distinct forms due to its aspect.

For 'продажа' (noun, feminine), it declines as a first-declension noun:

• Nominative: продажа
• Genitive: продажи
• Dative: продаже
• Accusative: продажу
• Instrumental: продажей
• Prepositional: продаже

This noun is regular and does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: реализовывать (more formal, emphasizing realization of value), сбывать (colloquial, for disposing of goods quickly) - Note: реализоваывать is often used in business contexts for a more professional tone.
• Antonyms: покупать (to buy), приобретать (to acquire)

Related Phrases:

• Продать товар - To sell a product (Refers to the act of exchanging goods for money in commerce).
• Сезонная продажа - Seasonal sale (Common in retail for promotional events).
• Продавать оптом - To sell wholesale (Used in business for bulk transactions).
• Онлайн-продажа - Online sale (Context of e-commerce and digital marketplaces).

Usage Notes:

Russian distinguishes between imperfective ('продавать') and perfective ('продать') aspects, unlike English 'sell'. Use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones. For example, choose 'продавать' in descriptions of habits, and 'продать' for specific events. In formal contexts, pair with prepositions like 'в' for locations (e.g., продавать в магазине). Beginners should note that 'продажа' as a noun is gender-neutral but declines like other feminine nouns.

• When translating from English, consider the context: if 'sell' implies repetition, opt for imperfective forms.
• In business Russian, 'продавать' is common in advertising, while 'продать' suits legal contracts.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the imperfective and perfective aspects, e.g., using 'продавать' for a one-time event: Incorrect: "Я продавал машину вчера" (implies ongoing action, which is awkward). Correct: "Я продал машину вчера." Explanation: Always match the aspect to the action's completeness to avoid sounding unnatural.

Another error: Misdeclining 'продажа' in sentences, e.g., Incorrect: "Я видел продажи" (wrong case). Correct: "Я видел продажу" (accusative). This stems from overlooking Russian case systems.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, selling and markets have historical significance, dating back to Soviet-era 'рынки' (markets) where bargaining was common. Terms like 'продажа' often evoke ideas of seasonal fairs or Black Friday equivalents, reflecting Russia's consumer culture evolution post-1990s. Understanding this can help English speakers grasp the social nuances in everyday transactions.

Related Concepts:

• Купить (to buy)
• Торговать (to trade)
• Рынок (market)