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A1 verb #2,000 most common 10 min read

vendre

Top 2,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips vendre in 30 Seconds

Explanation vendre in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'vendre' is primarily used for simple, everyday transactions. You learn to conjugate it in the present tense to talk about buying and selling basic items like food, clothes, or toys. The focus is on the direct exchange: 'Je vends mon vélo' (I sell my bike). Learners at this stage should focus on the basic 'vendre quelque chose à quelqu'un' structure and recognize the word on 'À Vendre' signs. It is a vital verb for survival French, enabling basic commerce in markets and shops. You will mostly use the present tense and perhaps the simple future to express intent. The goal is to understand that 'vendre' is the opposite of 'acheter' and to use it in short, declarative sentences. Vocabulary is limited to concrete objects and clear, immediate prices.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'vendre' in the past tense (passé composé) and the imperfect (imparfait) to describe past transactions or habits. You might say, 'J'ai vendu ma voiture hier' or 'Quand j'étais jeune, je vendais des journaux'. You also start to use pronouns: 'Je le lui vends'. The context expands to include more complex items like real estate or services. You begin to understand the reflexive 'se vendre' in simple contexts, like 'Ça se vend partout'. You are also introduced to common expressions like 'vendre cher' (to sell at a high price). The focus shifts from just 'what' is being sold to 'how' and 'when' it was sold, allowing for more descriptive storytelling about personal finances and shopping experiences.

At the B1 level, 'vendre' enters the realm of professional and social nuances. You use it in the conditional and subjunctive moods to express possibilities and requirements: 'Si j'avais de l'argent, je ne vendrais pas ma maison' or 'Il faut que nous vendions nos parts'. You start to encounter idiomatic expressions like 'vendre la mèche' (to spill the beans) or 'vendre la peau de l'ours...'. The verb is used to discuss economic trends in a basic way, and you can distinguish between 'vendre au détail' and 'vendre en gros'. You are expected to handle negotiations more fluently, using 'vendre' to argue for a price or describe the value of an object. The reflexive 'se vendre' is used more naturally to describe market trends.

At the B2 level, 'vendre' is used to discuss abstract concepts and complex economic strategies. You can use it to talk about 'selling an idea' or 'selling oneself' in a professional context. You understand the nuances of synonyms like 'céder', 'liquider', and 'écouler' and can choose the appropriate one for the register. You can follow debates about privatization ('vendre les services publics') and understand the ethical implications discussed in media. Your use of 'vendre' in idiomatic expressions is more spontaneous. You can also use the verb in the passive voice more effectively and understand the subtle difference between 'est vendu' and 'se vend'. You are comfortable using 'vendre' in complex sentence structures with multiple clauses and advanced connectors.

At the C1 level, you master the stylistic and rhetorical uses of 'vendre'. You can use it metaphorically to describe betrayal, political compromise, or the commercialization of culture. You understand the historical and legal weight of the term in French civil law. You can appreciate literature where 'vendre' is used to symbolize the loss of soul or integrity. Your vocabulary includes technical financial terms like 'vendre à découvert'. You can participate in high-level discussions about the 'société de consommation' (consumer society) and the ethics of 'tout vendre'. You are sensitive to the register, knowing when to use 'vendre' versus more academic terms like 'aliéner' or 'transférer'. Your use of the verb is precise, nuanced, and culturally grounded.

At the C2 level, 'vendre' is a tool for sophisticated linguistic play and deep cultural analysis. You can analyze the use of 'vendre' in classical French literature (like Molière or Balzac) and how it reflects the social structures of the time. You can use the verb in highly abstract philosophical arguments about the commodification of human experience. You have a perfect command of all idiomatic, archaic, and regional variations of the verb. You can write persuasive business or legal documents where the choice of 'vendre' or its synonyms carries specific legal or emotional weight. You understand the deepest connotations of the word, including its role in the French national identity regarding commerce, markets, and the 'art de vivre'.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

vendre in 30 Seconds

Vendre is the essential French verb for 'to sell', used in all types of commercial and personal transactions from markets to stock exchanges.
It is a regular -re verb (stem: vend-) conjugated as: je vends, tu vends, il vend, nous vendons, vous vendez, ils vendent.
Commonly used with the preposition 'à' for the recipient and 'pour' for the price, it also has many metaphorical meanings like 'betrayal'.
Key idioms include 'vendre la mèche' (to spill a secret) and 'vendre la peau de l'ours' (to count chickens before they hatch).

The French verb vendre is a cornerstone of economic and social interaction, fundamentally meaning 'to sell'. Derived from the Latin vendere (a contraction of venum dare, literally 'to give for sale'), it represents the transfer of ownership of a good or service in exchange for monetary compensation. In the French linguistic landscape, 'vendre' is a regular '-re' verb, though its simplicity in conjugation belies a vast depth of usage that spans from the most basic street market transaction to complex metaphorical expressions involving personal integrity and abstract concepts.

Core Definition: The act of transferring property or providing a service to a buyer for a set price. It is the reciprocal action of 'acheter' (to buy).

Le boulanger doit vendre tout son pain avant la fermeture.

Beyond the physical exchange of goods, 'vendre' encompasses the professional world of sales and marketing. When a salesperson 'vends' a product, they are not just facilitating a transaction; they are often persuading, negotiating, and presenting value. This leads to the reflexive form, se vendre, which can mean 'to sell oneself' (in a job interview context) or 'to be sold' (referring to how well a product is performing on the market). For instance, 'Ce nouveau gadget se vend comme des petits pains' (This new gadget is selling like hotcakes).

Legal Context: In French law, the 'contrat de vente' is a formal agreement where one party obligates themselves to deliver a thing, and the other to pay for it.

Elle a décidé de vendre ses actions en bourse.

The philosophical weight of 'vendre' appears in literature and ethics. To 'vendre la mèche' is to let the cat out of the bag or betray a secret, suggesting that information, like goods, has a price and a recipient. Similarly, 'vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué' (to sell the bear's skin before killing it) is the French equivalent of counting your chickens before they hatch, highlighting the speculative nature of selling. Understanding 'vendre' requires recognizing it as both a mechanical verb of commerce and a nuanced verb of human interaction and betrayal.

Etymological Root: From Latin 'vendere', combining 'venum' (sale) and 'dare' (to give). This highlights the historical view of selling as 'giving for a price'.

Ils vont vendre la maison familiale cet été.

Peux-tu me vendre ton vieux vélo ?

L'artiste refuse de vendre ses œuvres originales.

Using vendre correctly involves mastering its conjugation as a regular third-group verb ending in '-re'. The stem is 'vend-', and the endings follow the standard pattern: -s, -s, -(nothing), -ons, -ez, -ent. For example, 'Je vends', 'Tu vends', 'Il vend'. In the past tense (passé composé), it uses the auxiliary 'avoir' with the past participle 'vendu'. Mastering these forms is essential for any learner, as transactions are a daily necessity in French-speaking cultures.

Conjugation Tip: In the third person singular (il/elle/on), the verb ends in 'd'. Do not add a 't' as you might with other verbs. It is simply 'il vend'.

Nous vendons des fruits frais au marché tous les samedis.

The syntax of 'vendre' typically follows the pattern: vendre quelque chose à quelqu'un (to sell something to someone). The preposition 'à' is crucial here. If you are selling something 'for' a certain price, you use 'pour' or 'au prix de'. For example, 'Je l'ai vendu pour dix euros'. In more formal or commercial contexts, you might encounter 'vendre en gros' (to sell wholesale) or 'vendre au détail' (to sell retail). These nuances help specify the nature of the transaction.

Reflexive Usage: 'Se vendre' is often used in the passive sense. 'Ce livre se vend bien' means 'This book sells well' or 'is being sold well'.

Vous vendez votre voiture par nécessité ou par envie ?

In the imperative mood, 'vendre' is used to give commands or advice in sales. 'Vendez-le maintenant !' (Sell it now!). In the subjunctive, it becomes 'que je vende', 'que nous vendions', often used after expressions of necessity or desire, such as 'Il faut que je vende ma maison'. Understanding these different moods allows a speaker to navigate various social scenarios, from urgent business decisions to polite suggestions among friends.

Common Prepositions: Vendre à (to), Vendre pour (for a price), Vendre par (by means of, e.g., par correspondance).

Il a vendu son âme au diable pour la gloire.

Si le prix monte, nous vendrons nos parts.

Ils ne vendent plus ce modèle en magasin.

The word vendre echoes through the streets of France, particularly in the vibrant 'marchés' (markets) that are central to French life. You will hear vendors shouting their prices, or customers asking, 'À quel prix vendez-vous ces tomates ?' (At what price are you selling these tomatoes?). It is the language of the 'terroir', where the quality of the product is as important as the transaction itself. In these settings, 'vendre' is a social bridge between the producer and the consumer.

The Market Scene: 'Vendre' is ubiquitous in open-air markets. It’s often paired with 'brader' (to sell at a low price) during 'braderies' or flea markets.

Le commerçant essaie de me vendre ce tapis depuis une heure.

In the corporate and financial districts of Paris, such as La Défense, 'vendre' takes on a more clinical, strategic tone. Business news reports frequently use the verb to describe mergers, acquisitions, and stock market fluctuations. Phrases like 'vendre à découvert' (short selling) or 'vendre ses actifs' (selling one's assets) are common in newspapers like Les Échos or Le Monde. Here, the verb loses its personal touch and becomes a metric of economic health and corporate strategy.

Media & News: Financial journalists use 'vendre' to describe market trends, especially during a 'mouvement de vente' (sell-off).

L'entreprise a dû vendre sa filiale pour éviter la faillite.

Pop culture and digital spaces also heavily utilize 'vendre'. On platforms like Vinted or Leboncoin (the French equivalent of Craigslist), 'vendre' is the primary action. Young people might use the slang 'vendre du rêve' (to sell a dream) to describe someone who is over-promising or presenting an idealized version of reality, often sarcastically. This shows how the verb has migrated from physical goods to the sale of ideas, lifestyles, and even illusions in the modern age.

Digital Economy: On apps like Leboncoin, 'vendre' is the core function, often followed by 'remise en main propre' (hand delivery).

Il nous vend du rêve avec ses promesses électorales.

On peut tout vendre sur internet de nos jours.

Le libraire m'a vendu le dernier exemplaire du roman.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers learning vendre is confusing it with the noun 'vent' (wind) or the verb 'venter' (to blow). While they look similar, their pronunciations and meanings are entirely different. Another common error occurs in conjugation, specifically in the present tense third-person singular. Students often want to write 'il vendt' because they are used to the '-t' ending in verbs like 'fait' or 'dit', but 'vendre' simply drops the '-re' to become 'vend'.

Conjugation Error: Avoid 'il vendt'. The correct form is 'il vend'. The 'd' is part of the stem and remains alone in the singular third person.

Attention : Il vend (he sells) vs Il y a du vent (it is windy).

Prepositional errors are also rampant. Learners often say 'vendre pour quelqu'un' when they mean 'vendre à quelqu'un'. While 'pour' can be used to indicate the price (vendre pour 5 euros), the recipient of the sale must always be introduced by 'à'. Additionally, confusing 'vendre' with 'venger' (to avenge) can lead to some very awkward or even aggressive misunderstandings in conversation. Always ensure the 'd' sound is clear to distinguish 'vendre' from its phonetic neighbors.

Preposition Pitfall: Incorrect: 'Je vends ma télé pour mon voisin'. Correct: 'Je vends ma télé à mon voisin'.

Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.

Finally, learners often struggle with the reflexive 'se vendre'. They might try to use a passive construction like 'est vendu' in places where a French speaker would naturally use the reflexive. For example, 'This car sells well' should be 'Cette voiture se vend bien' rather than 'Cette voiture est vendue bien'. Understanding that 'se vendre' often acts as a middle voice in French is a key step toward sounding more like a native speaker and avoiding clunky, translated-sounding sentences.

Passive vs Reflexive: Use 'se vendre' for general marketability. Use 'être vendu' for a specific item that has completed a transaction.

Le produit se vend très bien en Europe.

N'oubliez pas le 's' à 'nous vendons'.

Est-ce que vous vendez des timbres ici ?

While vendre is the general term for selling, French offers a rich palette of synonyms that specify the *how* and *why* of the sale. 'Céder', for instance, is often used in legal or formal contexts to mean 'to transfer' or 'to assign' (e.g., 'céder ses droits'). It implies a more permanent or official handover than a simple street sale. 'Écouler' is used when talking about getting rid of stock or 'moving' merchandise, often used in business to describe inventory management.

Vendre vs Céder: 'Vendre' is commercial; 'Céder' is often more formal or implies giving up something one owns (like a seat or a right).

Il a dû céder son commerce à cause de sa santé.

In more casual or even slightly shady contexts, you might encounter 'fourguer' (slang for 'to pawn off' or 'to fence' stolen goods) or 'liquider' (to liquidate or sell off everything quickly, often at a loss). 'Brader' is specifically used for selling at very low prices, similar to 'to sell for a song'. If you are 'commercialisant' a product, you are in the broader process of marketing and selling it as a business activity. Each of these words adds a layer of intent and social standing to the act of selling.

Vendre vs Brader: 'Vendre' is neutral; 'Brader' implies a significant discount, often during a clearance sale.

Le magasin va liquider tout son stock avant travaux.

On the opposite side, 'aliéner' is a very formal, often philosophical or legal term for transferring property, while 'négocier' focuses on the discussion leading up to the sale. Understanding these synonyms allows a learner to move from basic 'A1' transactions to 'C1' level nuance, where the choice of verb reveals the speaker's attitude toward the transaction. For example, 'fourguer' suggests a lack of respect for the item, while 'céder' suggests a dignified transfer of a legacy.

Vendre vs Écouler: 'Vendre' focuses on the act; 'Écouler' focuses on the volume and the removal of stock.

Ils essaient d'écouler les invendus de la saison dernière.

Elle a réussi à fourguer sa vieille télé à un étudiant.

Le gouvernement refuse de vendre ses entreprises stratégiques.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Regular -re verb conjugation

Indirect object pronouns (lui/leur)

Passé composé with 'avoir'

Reflexive verbs in passive sense

Preposition 'à' for recipients

Examples by Level

Je vends mon vieux vélo.

I am selling my old bike.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Tu vends des pommes ?

Are you selling apples?

Interrogative form, 2nd person singular.

Il vend sa voiture rouge.

He is selling his red car.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nous vendons des fleurs.

We are selling flowers.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Vous vendez ce livre ?

Are you selling this book?

Formal 'vous' or plural 'you'.

Elles vendent des gâteaux.

They (feminine) are selling cakes.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Je ne vends pas mon chat.

I am not selling my cat.

Negative construction 'ne... pas'.

Vendez-vous du café ?

Do you sell coffee?

Inversion for question.

J'ai vendu ma console de jeux.

I sold my gaming console.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Elle vendait des journaux autrefois.

She used to sell newspapers in the past.

Imperfect tense for past habits.

Nous allons vendre la maison.

We are going to sell the house.

Futur proche (aller + infinitive).

Il l'a vendue très cher.

He sold it very dearly (expensively).

Object pronoun 'l'' and past participle agreement.

Tu ne devrais pas vendre tes jouets.

You shouldn't sell your toys.

Conditional mood for advice.

Ce modèle se vend bien ici.

This model sells well here.

Reflexive 'se vendre' in a passive sense.

Ils ont tout vendu en une heure.

They sold everything in one hour.

Passé composé with 'tout'.

Voulez-vous me le vendre ?

Do you want to sell it to me?

Double pronouns 'me le'.

Il faut que je vende mon appartement.

I must sell my apartment.

Subjunctive mood after 'il faut que'.

Si je gagnais au loto, je ne vendrais rien.

If I won the lottery, I wouldn't sell anything.

Hypothetical 'si' clause with conditional.

Elle a fini par vendre la mèche.

She ended up spilling the beans.

Idiomatic expression 'vendre la mèche'.

Le commerçant m'a vendu du rêve.

The merchant sold me a dream (misled me).

Metaphorical usage.

Nous vendons nos produits à l'étranger.

We sell our products abroad.

Business context.

Ils vendent la peau de l'ours trop tôt.

They are selling the bear's skin too early.

Proverbial usage.

Ce journal se vend à des milliers d'exemplaires.

This newspaper sells thousands of copies.

Reflexive for statistics.

Vendez vos actions avant la chute.

Sell your shares before the drop.

Imperative mood.

L'entreprise a décidé de vendre ses brevets.

The company decided to sell its patents.

Infinitive after 'décider de'.

Il s'est bien vendu lors de l'entretien.

He sold himself well during the interview.

Reflexive 'se vendre' (figurative).

Le gouvernement refuse de vendre les bijoux de famille.

The government refuses to sell the 'family jewels' (state assets).

Idiomatic 'bijoux de famille'.

Bien que le prix soit bas, ils ne vendent pas.

Although the price is low, they aren't selling.

Subjunctive in the 'bien que' clause.

Elle a vendu son âme pour réussir.

She sold her soul to succeed.

Moral/Metaphorical usage.

Les produits bio se vendent de plus en plus.

Organic products are selling more and more.

Reflexive for market trends.

Il a été accusé de vendre des secrets d'État.

He was accused of selling state secrets.

Passive infinitive.

Vendre à perte est interdit dans certains cas.

Selling at a loss is forbidden in some cases.

Gerund/Infinitive as subject.

L'auteur refuse de se vendre au marketing de masse.

The author refuses to sell out to mass marketing.

Reflexive 'se vendre' (to sell out).

Il a vendu chèrement sa peau.

He sold his skin dearly (put up a hard fight).

Idiomatic expression for resistance.

La question est de savoir s'il faut vendre ou céder.

The question is whether to sell or to transfer.

Nuance between synonyms.

Ils ont vendu leur patrimoine pièce par pièce.

They sold their heritage piece by piece.

Descriptive of decline.

Le film se vend comme une critique sociale.

The film is marketed as a social critique.

Reflexive for positioning/marketing.

Vendre son talent au plus offrant est un dilemme.

Selling one's talent to the highest bidder is a dilemma.

Abstract subject.

Le scandale a fait vendre beaucoup de papier.

The scandal sold a lot of papers (newspapers).

Causative 'faire' construction.

Il ne faut pas se laisser vendre n'importe quoi.

One shouldn't let oneself be sold just anything.

Reflexive with 'laisser'.

La marchandisation du monde tend à tout vendre.

The commodification of the world tends to sell everything.

Philosophical/Sociological context.

Il a vendu son droit d'aînesse pour un plat de lentilles.

He sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Literary/Biblical allusion.

L'œuvre se vend par-delà les frontières culturelles.

The work sells beyond cultural boundaries.

Abstract reflexive.

Vendre l'invendable est le propre du génie commercial.

Selling the unsellable is the hallmark of commercial genius.

Paradoxical construction.

La trahison consistait à vendre ses frères.

The betrayal consisted of selling out his brothers.

Moral/Historical context.

On ne peut vendre ce qui n'a pas de prix.

One cannot sell that which is priceless.

Philosophical maxim.

Le politicien a fini par se vendre au lobby pétrolier.

The politician ended up selling out to the oil lobby.

Political commentary.

Vendre la mèche n'était qu'un prélude à sa chute.

Spilling the beans was but a prelude to his fall.

Literary narrative style.

Common Collocations

vendre cher

vendre à perte

vendre en gros

vendre au détail

vendre aux enchères

vendre à crédit

vendre par correspondance

vendre ses services

vendre ses parts

vendre son âme

Common Phrases

À vendre

Vendre comme des petits pains

Vendre la mèche

Vendre la peau de l'ours

Vendre du rêve

Vendre chèrement sa peau

Se vendre bien

Vendre à découvert

Vendre son droit d'aînesse

Vendre ses bijoux de famille

Often Confused With

vendre vs vent (wind)

vendre vs venger (to avenge)

vendre vs rendre (to return)

Idioms & Expressions

"Vendre la mèche (to reveal a secret)"

"Vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué (to count your chickens before they hatch)"

"Vendre du rêve (to over-promise or present a fake ideal)"

"Vendre son âme au diable (to sell one's soul to the devil)"

"Vendre chèrement sa peau (to fight hard before losing)"

"Vendre comme des petits pains (to sell like hotcakes)"

"Vendre ses bijoux de famille (to sell off precious assets)"

"Se vendre comme un rien (to sell very easily)"

"Vendre son droit d'aînesse pour un plat de lentilles (to trade something precious for something trivial)"

"Vendre la mèche à quelqu'un (to betray someone's secret)"

Easily Confused

vendre vs vent

vendre vs venger

vendre vs vante

vendre vs vend

vendre vs vendu

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

reflexive

Se vendre is very common for 'to be sold'.

prepositions

Vendre à (person), Vendre pour (price).

Common Mistakes

Using 'vendre pour' instead of 'vendre à' for the buyer.
Adding a 't' to the 3rd person singular: 'il vendt' (incorrect) vs 'il vend' (correct).
Confusing 'vendre' with 'vent' (wind) in pronunciation.
Forgetting the past participle agreement when the direct object precedes 'vendre'.
Confusing 'vendre' with 'rendre' (to return/give back).

Tips

Stem Consistency

The stem 'vend-' stays consistent throughout most tenses. Whether you are in the present, imperfect, or future, you can rely on that 'vend' base. This makes it one of the more predictable verbs in the third group.

Noun Connection

Connect 'vendre' with 'la vente' (the sale) and 'le vendeur' (the seller). Learning these together helps you build a semantic web, making it easier to recall the verb in different contexts like shopping or business.

Nasal Precision

Focus on the nasal 'en' /ɑ̃/. It's the same sound as in 'dans' or 'manger'. If you pronounce the 'n' too clearly, it won't sound natural. Keep the air flowing through your nose and mouth simultaneously.

Preposition 'À'

Always remember that you sell 'to' someone in French using 'à'. Even if you use a pronoun, the 'à' is implied. 'Je lui vends' literally means 'I to-him sell'. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers.

Market Etiquette

When 'vendre' happens at a French market, it's polite to greet the 'vendeur' with a 'Bonjour' before asking about prices. Selling is a social interaction, not just a cold exchange of money for goods.

Don't Kill the Bear

The phrase 'vendre la peau de l'ours' is very common. Use it when someone is being too optimistic about a result that hasn't happened yet. It shows a high level of cultural and linguistic fluency.

Professional Selling

In a job interview, use 'valoriser mes compétences' instead of just 'me vendre' if you want to sound more sophisticated. While 'se vendre' is okay, 'valoriser' (to add value to) is more professional.

Selling Dreams

Use 'vendre du rêve' sarcastically when someone is exaggerating. For example, if a friend says they'll be a millionaire next week, you can say 'Tu nous vends du rêve, là'. It's a very 'native' way to speak.

Agreement Rules

In the passé composé, the past participle 'vendu' only agrees with the direct object if that object comes *before* the verb. 'La voiture que j'ai vendue' (feminine agreement) vs 'J'ai vendu la voiture' (no agreement).

Avoid 'Vendre Pour'

Never say 'Je vends pour toi' if you mean 'I sell to you'. 'Pour' is for the price or the reason, not the recipient. This is one of the most frequent mistakes made by English-speaking learners.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Latin

Cultural Context

'Vendre du rêve' is a very common modern critique of influencers.

Real estate transactions are strictly regulated by 'notaires'.

Selling at the market is a profession of pride in France.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Est-ce que vous vendez des produits locaux ?"

"À quel prix vendez-vous votre voiture ?"

"Pourquoi avez-vous décidé de vendre ?"

"Pensez-vous que ce livre se vendra bien ?"

"Avez-vous déjà vendu quelque chose sur internet ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez la dernière chose que vous avez vendue.

Si vous deviez vendre tous vos biens, que garderiez-vous ?

Est-il facile de se vendre lors d'un entretien d'embauche ?

Imaginez que vous vendez un objet magique. Quel est son prix ?

Pourquoi certaines personnes refusent-elles de vendre leurs souvenirs ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'vendre' is considered a regular -re verb. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for verbs like 'attendre' or 'répondre'. This makes it relatively easy for beginners to learn once they master the stem 'vend-' and the corresponding endings.

The most common way to say 'For Sale' is 'À vendre'. You will see this on signs for houses, cars, and other items. It uses the preposition 'à' followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

'Vendre' is the general term for selling in a commercial sense. 'Céder' is more formal and often used in legal contexts to mean 'to transfer' or 'to assign' rights or property. 'Céder' can also mean to give up something, like a seat on a bus.

Generally, no, unless you are speaking metaphorically about betrayal (selling someone out) or in the context of sports (selling a player's contract). In a professional context, 'se vendre' means to market oneself or highlight one's skills.

This is a popular idiom meaning 'to spill the beans' or 'to let the cat out of the bag'. It literally means 'to sell the wick', referring to an old practice of revealing a secret plot or explosive device.

'Vendre' always takes 'avoir' as its auxiliary verb in the passé composé. For example: 'J'ai vendu', 'Nous avons vendu'. It only uses 'être' in the passive voice: 'La maison a été vendue'.

The present tense conjugation is: Je vends, Tu vends, Il/Elle/On vend, Nous vendons, Vous vendez, Ils/Elles vendent. Note that the third person singular 'vend' does not have an extra 't'.

'Vendre à perte' means 'to sell at a loss'. This is when a business sells a product for less than it cost to produce or buy. In France, this is strictly regulated and often illegal during certain times of the year.

The direct opposite of 'vendre' (to sell) is 'acheter' (to buy). Another related opposite could be 'garder' (to keep) or 'donner' (to give for free).

'Se vendre' is used in two main ways: 1) To describe how well a product is selling (e.g., 'Ça se vend bien'). 2) To describe someone promoting themselves (e.g., 'Il sait se vendre'). It acts as a reflexive or passive construction.