продавать vs продать

prodavat' vs prodat' — sell regularly/process vs sell once

What it really means

Продавать is imperfective: sell as a business, a repeated action, or a process. Продать is perfective: make one sale or dispose of a particular item. Both take the item in the accusative; a buyer may be introduced with кому.

A shop продаёт products generally; someone продал a car when that transaction is complete.

Examples in natural speech

Этот магазин продаёт свежий хлеб.
This shop sells fresh bread.
Он продаёт картины онлайн.
He sells paintings online.
Мы продали машину соседу.
We sold the car to a neighbour.
Не продавайте билет!
Don't sell the ticket!
Она хочет продать старый стол.
She wants to sell the old table.

Common mistakes

Продавать машину can describe the ongoing attempt, while продать машину says it was sold. Do not use продать for a shop’s general stock: магазин продаёт кофе.

Memory tip

Про- carries one sale through to its result: продать.

Frequently asked questions

How do I say the shop sells books?

Магазин продаёт книги.

How do I say I sold it?

Я это продал/продала.

What is the aspect difference?

Продавать is process or regular activity; продать is one completed sale.

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