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A1 verb 10 min read

prodati

Examples prodati in 30 Seconds
Explanation prodati in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'prodati' is used for very basic transactions. You learn it as the opposite of 'kupiti' (to buy). You will use it to talk about selling simple items like fruit at a market, a book to a friend, or a toy. The focus is on the present and simple past tense. You should be able to say 'I sold my bike' or ask 'Will you sell me that apple?'. The grammar is kept simple, focusing on the Accusative case for the object being sold.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'prodati' in more varied contexts, such as selling a car or a house. You start to incorporate the Dative case to specify who the buyer is ('Prodal sem mu avto'). You also learn to use the future tense more effectively and understand the difference between the perfective 'prodati' and the imperfective 'prodajati' in common daily scenarios, like shopping or small-scale trading.
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By B1, you can use 'prodati' to discuss more abstract concepts, such as selling an idea or a service. You are comfortable with the passive voice ('Hiša je bila prodana') and can use the conditional mood to talk about hypothetical sales ('Če bi imel denar, ne bi prodal stanovanja'). You also begin to learn common idioms involving the word and can understand news reports about business transactions and market trends.
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At the B2 level, 'prodati' is used in professional and technical contexts. You can discuss marketing strategies, sales targets, and the nuances of contractual obligations. You understand the difference between synonyms like 'iztržiti' and 'odprodati'. Your use of the word is more fluid, allowing you to engage in negotiations and explain the reasoning behind selling assets or shares in a business environment.
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At the C1 level, you use 'prodati' with high precision, including its metaphorical and literary uses. You can discuss the ethics of selling (e.g., 'selling one's soul') and use the word in complex academic or legal discussions. You are aware of the subtle stylistic differences between using 'prodati' and its more formal counterparts like 'odtujiti' (to alienate/transfer property) in legal texts. You can also interpret deep cultural references involving the act of selling.
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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over 'prodati'. You can use it in any register, from slang to high-level legal and philosophical discourse. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its cognates in other Slavic languages. You can use it to craft persuasive arguments, write sophisticated business reports, and appreciate the finest nuances of the word in Slovenian literature and poetry, where it might symbolize betrayal, survival, or sacrifice.
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Examples

prodati in 30 Seconds

  • Prodati is a perfective Slovenian verb meaning 'to sell,' focusing on the completed transaction of goods or services for money.
  • It requires the Accusative case for the item being sold and the Dative case for the person receiving it.
  • Commonly used in past and future contexts, it is essential for shopping, business, and discussing personal property changes.
  • The imperfective form is 'prodajati,' which is used for ongoing selling activities or professional roles.
The Slovenian verb prodati is a fundamental pillar of economic and social interaction within the Slovenian language. At its most basic level, it translates to the English verb 'to sell,' representing the completed action of transferring ownership of a good or service to another party in exchange for a specified amount of currency. This verb is perfective, meaning it focuses on the completion of the act. In the Slovenian mind, using prodati implies that the deal is done, the money has changed hands, or the decision to finalize the transaction is the primary focus. This contrasts with its imperfective counterpart, prodajati, which describes the ongoing process of offering things for sale or the general activity of being a salesperson.
Economic Context
In a formal market setting, such as a retail store or a corporate boardroom, prodati signifies the ultimate goal of the business entity. It is the transition from inventory to revenue.
Personal Exchange
On a personal level, Slovenians use this word when clearing out their homes, selling a used car on platforms like Bolha, or passing on heirlooms for a price. It carries a sense of finality and often a shift in responsibility for the item.

Včeraj sem končno uspel prodati svojo staro mizo, ki je v kleti zasedala preveč prostora.

Beyond physical objects, prodati is used metaphorically. One might 'sell' an idea to a colleague, meaning they have successfully persuaded them of its value. In a more negative light, it can refer to 'selling out' or betraying one's principles for personal gain. This depth makes it a versatile tool for both A1 learners and C2 scholars.

Ali misliš, da boš lahko prodal ta avto za pet tisoč evrov?

Podjetje je moralo prodati svoje delnice, da bi se izognilo bankrotu.

Nihče ni hotel prodati svoje zemlje tujim investitorjem.

Umetnik je uspel prodati svojo sliko na dražbi za rekordno vsoto.

Legal Nuance
In legal documents, prodati is the operative verb in a 'prodajna pogodba' (sales contract). It defines the moment the legal title passes.
Understanding prodati requires recognizing the inherent value exchange. It is not just about the money; it is about the transition of utility. Whether you are selling a house, a bicycle, or a story, the verb remains the same, providing a consistent linguistic anchor for all types of commerce. It is a word that reflects the industrious and pragmatic nature of the Slovenian people, who have historically been active in trade across Central Europe.
Using prodati correctly in a sentence involves understanding the grammatical cases that follow it. This verb is transitive, meaning it requires a direct object in the Accusative case (tožilnik). Additionally, if you are specifying the person to whom you are selling, that person must be in the Dative case (dajalnik). This structure is very similar to the English 'to sell something to someone.' For example, in the sentence 'Prodal sem knjigo prijatelju,' 'knjigo' (book) is in the Accusative, and 'prijatelju' (to the friend) is in the Dative.
Past Tense Construction
To form the past tense, use the auxiliary verb 'biti' (to be) and the l-participle of prodati. For a male subject: 'Prodal sem.' For a female subject: 'Prodala sem.' For plural: 'Prodali smo.'
Future Tense Construction
Since prodati is perfective, the present tense forms actually function as a future tense in many contexts, or you can use 'bom' + infinitive. 'Prodam' can mean 'I will sell' in a definitive sense, or 'Bom prodal' for a standard future.

Ali si že prodal svojo hišo na deželi?

Če ne bomo prodali dovolj vstopnic, bomo morali odpovedati koncert.

Trgovec je prodal zadnji par čevljev pravkar.

Kmetje so na sejmu prodali ves svoj pridelek v dveh urah.

Moja sestra je prodala svojo poročno obleko prek spleta.

Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, the direct object remains in the Accusative if the object is concrete and the action is simply negated. 'Nisem prodal avtomobila' (Genitive is also common in negation for emphasis or abstract concepts).
The versatility of prodati allows it to be used in complex sentence structures involving conditional moods (e.g., 'Če bi imel denar, ne bi prodal hiše') and passive constructions (e.g., 'Hiša je bila prodana'). Mastering these patterns is essential for fluid communication in Slovenian business and daily life.
In the daily life of a Slovenian speaker, the word prodati resonates through various environments, from the bustling streets of Ljubljana to the quiet villages of Prekmurje. One of the most common places to encounter this word is in the media, specifically in advertisements and news reports. You will frequently hear news anchors discussing how a large state-owned company was 'prodana' to a foreign investor, or reading headlines about the rising prices at which real estate is being 'prodana' in the capital city.
The Marketplace (Tržnica)
At any local 'tržnica', you will hear vendors shouting that they have 'prodali' the best of their harvest. Customers often ask, 'Ste že vse prodali?' (Have you already sold everything?) when they see an empty stall.
Real Estate and Cars
Conversations among friends often revolve around significant life changes. You might hear someone say, 'Končno smo prodali stanovanje in se selimo na deželo.' This reflects the word's role in major life transitions.

Na radiu so rekli, da so prodali vse vstopnice za koncert v Stožicah v manj kot uri.

Oglas na spletni strani pravi: 'Nujno moram prodati svojo opremo za kampiranje.'

Sosed mi je rekel, da je prodal svoj traktor, ker ga ne potrebuje več.

Ali ste že prodali tisti stari klavir, ki je bil v dnevni sobi?

V trgovini so mi dejali, da so prodali zadnji izdelek tik pred mojim prihodom.

In the Office
Professional environments use prodati to discuss targets. 'Moramo prodati vsaj sto licenc do konca meseca' (We must sell at least 100 licenses by the end of the month).
Whether you are watching a soap opera where a character 'proda' their soul for love, or reading a financial report about the 'prodaja' (sale) of a startup, this word is omnipresent. Its frequency makes it one of the most vital verbs for any learner to internalize early in their journey.
One of the most frequent hurdles for learners of Slovenian when using the verb prodati is the distinction between the perfective and imperfective aspects. Many students mistakenly use prodati when they should be using prodajati. For example, if you want to say 'I sell cars for a living,' you should say 'Prodajam avtomobile.' Using 'Prodam avtomobile' would imply a one-time completed action, like 'I will sell these specific cars' or 'I have sold these cars.'
Case Errors
Another common mistake involves the Dative case. English speakers often want to use a preposition like 'do' (to) or 'za' (for) to indicate the buyer. In Slovenian, you simply use the Dative case without a preposition. 'Prodal sem mu avto' (I sold him the car) is correct; 'Prodal sem avto do njega' is incorrect.
Negation Confusion
When negating the verb, especially in the Genitive case, learners sometimes forget to change the ending of the object. While 'Nisem prodal avta' (Genitive) is the standard for total negation, 'Nisem prodal avto' (Accusative) is sometimes heard but can sound less natural in formal contexts.

Napačno: Prodal sem kruh vsak dan. (Correct: Prodajal sem kruh vsak dan.)

Napačno: Prodal sem hišo za mojo sestro. (Correct: Prodal sem hišo svoji sestri.)

Napačno: Ali boš prodal tvojo uro? (Correct: Ali boš prodal svojo uro? - Use 'svojo' for 'your own'.)

Napačno: Podjetje je prodalo vse za deset evrov. (Correct: Podjetje je vse prodalo po deset evrov - if referring to unit price.)

Napačno: Moram prodati to idejo k šefu. (Correct: To idejo moram prodati šefu.)

Preposition Pitfall
Using 'na' or 'v' incorrectly when describing where something was sold. Use 'na trgu' (on the market) or 'v trgovini' (in the shop).
Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Slovenian sound significantly more authentic and professional. Pay close attention to the endings of the words surrounding prodati, as they are the keys to grammatical accuracy.
While prodati is the most common way to express selling, Slovenian offers a variety of alternatives depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Understanding these synonyms and related verbs will enrich your vocabulary and allow for more precise expression.
Prodajati vs. Prodati
Prodajati is the imperfective form. Use it for the process: 'Prodajam hišo' (I am in the process of selling the house). Prodati is for the result: 'Prodal sem hišo' (I have sold the house).
Trgovati
This verb means 'to trade' or 'to deal.' It is often used for professional commerce or trading on the stock market. 'Trgujejo z nafto' (They trade in oil).

Namesto da bi prodali celo podjetje, so se odločili za strateško partnerstvo.

Trgovci so razprodali vse zaloge v enem popoldnevu.

Uspeli so iztržiti boljšo ceno za svojo nepremičnino.

Ali lahko ponudite ta izdelek po nižji ceni?

Vlada namerava privatizirati (prodati zasebnikom) državno banko.

Iztržiti
This verb is specifically used when talking about the amount of money one managed to get from a sale. It implies negotiation or a successful outcome. 'Iztržili so milijon evrov.'
By learning these variations, you move from a basic understanding of commerce to a more sophisticated ability to describe market dynamics, personal negotiations, and financial strategies. Each word carries a slightly different emotional and professional weight, which is key to mastering the Slovenian language.
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Examples by Level

1

Prodal sem staro knjigo.

I sold an old book.

Past tense, masculine singular subject.

2

Ali boš prodal svoj kolo?

Will you sell your bicycle?

Future tense question.

3

Kmet je prodal jabolka.

The farmer sold the apples.

Accusative plural object.

4

Mama je prodala svojo mizo.

Mother sold her table.

Feminine singular subject in past tense.

5

Prodamo našo hišo.

We will sell our house.

Present tense used as definitive future.

6

On ne želi prodati avta.

He does not want to sell the car.

Infinitive after 'želeti'.

7

Prodali smo vse karte.

We sold all the tickets.

Plural past tense.

8

Ali lahko prodam to?

Can I sell this?

Infinitive after 'lahko'.

1

Sosedu sem prodal svojo kosilnico.

I sold my lawnmower to the neighbor.

Dative case 'sosedu'.

2

Včeraj so prodali zadnji kruh.

Yesterday they sold the last bread.

Third person plural past tense.

3

Kdaj boš prodal svoj stari telefon?

When will you sell your old phone?

Future tense with 'kdaj'.

4

Prodala sta avto za tisoč evrov.

The two of them sold the car for a thousand euros.

Dual past tense.

5

Nismo še prodali vseh igrač.

We haven't sold all the toys yet.

Negative past tense with Genitive object.

6

Ali mi lahko prodaš to sliko?

Can you sell me this painting?

Dative pronoun 'mi'.

7

Moram prodati te čevlje, ker so mi majhni.

I must sell these shoes because they are too small for me.

Infinitive after 'morati'.

8

Trgovina je prodala veliko oblačil.

The shop sold a lot of clothes.

Genitive after 'veliko'.

1

Če bi imel več časa, bi sam prodal to hišo.

If I had more time, I would sell this house myself.

Conditional mood.

2

Hiša je bila prodana v manj kot tednu dni.

The house was sold in less than a week.

Passive voice.

3

Uspelo mu je prodati svojo idejo investitorjem.

He managed to sell his idea to the investors.

Metaphorical use of 'prodati'.

4

Ali ste že prodali vse delnice tega podjetja?

Have you already sold all the shares of this company?

Formal address 'ste'.

5

Prodati se za denar ni vedno najboljša rešitev.

Selling oneself for money is not always the best solution.

Reflexive use 'prodati se'.

6

Oče je prodal kmetijo, ker nihče ni hotel delati na njej.

Father sold the farm because no one wanted to work on it.

Causal clause.

7

Nameravajo prodati celotno zbirko znamk.

They intend to sell the entire stamp collection.

Infinitive after 'nameravati'.

8

Vstopnice so bile razprodane v desetih minutah.

The tickets were sold out in ten minutes.

Prefix 'raz-' indicating completion.

1

Podjetje se je odločilo prodati svojo hčerinsko družbo.

The company decided to sell its subsidiary.

Business terminology.

2

Težko je prodati izdelek, ki nima jasne ciljne publike.

It is difficult to sell a product that lacks a clear target audience.

Impersonal construction 'težko je'.

3

Prodati moramo vsaj tisoč enot, da bomo na pozitivni ničli.

We must sell at least a thousand units to break even.

Numerical requirement.

4

Zemljišče so prodali pod tržno vrednostjo.

They sold the land below market value.

Prepositional phrase 'pod vrednostjo'.

5

Ali lahko utemeljite, zakaj ste prodali te obveznice?

Can you justify why you sold these bonds?

Subordinate clause with 'zakaj'.

6

Prodati svojo integriteto je pot brez povratka.

Selling one's integrity is a path of no return.

Abstract noun 'integriteto'.

7

Vse premoženje so prodali na javni dražbi.

They sold all the assets at a public auction.

Locative phrase 'na dražbi'.

8

Niso hoteli prodati licence za uporabo programske opreme.

They did not want to sell the software license.

Genitive object 'licence'.

1

Avtor je zavrnil možnost, da bi prodal avtorske pravice za film.

The author rejected the possibility of selling the film rights.

Complex clause structure.

2

Prodati se tujemu kapitalu ne pomeni nujno izgube suverenosti.

Selling oneself to foreign capital does not necessarily mean a loss of sovereignty.

Gerund-like use of infinitive.

3

V romanu protagonist proda svojo dušo za večno mladost.

In the novel, the protagonist sells his soul for eternal youth.

Literary context.

4

Uspeli so prodati zgodbo, ki je bila popolnoma izmišljena.

They managed to sell a story that was completely fabricated.

Relative clause.

5

Prodati vse svoje imetje in oditi v svet zahteva ogromno poguma.

Selling all your possessions and going into the world requires immense courage.

Subject as an infinitive phrase.

6

Zaradi krize so bili prisiljeni prodati nepremičnine po smešno nizkih cenah.

Due to the crisis, they were forced to sell real estate at ridiculously low prices.

Passive construction with 'prisiljeni'.

7

Prodati meglo je izraz za zavajanje kupcev z ničvrednimi obljubami.

'Selling fog' is an expression for deceiving buyers with worthless promises.

Idiomatic expression analysis.

8

Politična stranka je prodala svoje ideale za vstop v koalicijo.

The political party sold its ideals to enter the coalition.

Metaphorical political use.

1

Vprašanje je, ali je sploh mogoče prodati koncept, ki temelji na tako abstraktnih predpostavkah.

The question is whether it is even possible to sell a concept based on such abstract assumptions.

Interrogative clause.

2

Prodati lastno prepričanje za trenutno ugodje je moralni propad posameznika.

Selling one's own conviction for temporary comfort is the moral downfall of the individual.

High-level moral discourse.

3

Njegova sposobnost, da proda še tako nepomembno informacijo, je naravnost osupljiva.

His ability to sell even the most insignificant information is downright astonishing.

Appositive infinitive phrase.

4

Dražbena hiša je prodala umetnino, katere provenienca je bila dolgo časa sporna.

The auction house sold a work of art whose provenance had been disputed for a long time.

Relative clause with 'katere'.

5

Prodati del sebe v vsakem umetniškem delu je usoda vsakega pravega ustvarjalca.

Selling a part of oneself in every work of art is the fate of every true creator.

Existential context.

6

Kljub nasprotovanju javnosti so prodali strateško infrastrukturo države.

Despite public opposition, they sold the state's strategic infrastructure.

Concessive phrase 'kljub nasprotovanju'.

7

Prodati mačka v žaklju je v sodobnem svetu informacijske tehnologije vse težje.

Selling a cat in a sack (a pig in a poke) is increasingly difficult in the modern world of information technology.

Idiom integration.

8

Filozofija potrošništva nas sili, da prodamo svoj čas za stvari, ki jih ne potrebujemo.

The philosophy of consumerism forces us to sell our time for things we do not need.

Sociological analysis.

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