Inklingo

How to Say "to market" in Spanish

English → Spanish

vender

ben-derbenˈdeɾ

verbA1general
Use 'vender' when referring to the general act of selling or offering goods for sale, often in a retail or transactional context.
A cartoon vendor exchanging a bright red apple for a small pile of gold coins held by a customer.

Examples

Mi tío vende autos usados en el mercado.

My uncle sells used cars at the market.

¿A qué precio vendieron la casa finalmente?

At what price did they finally sell the house?

Estamos vendiendo los productos a mitad de precio para liquidar el inventario.

We are selling the products at half price to clear the inventory.

Regular -ER Verb

Since 'vender' is a regular -ER verb, you can use its endings as a template for hundreds of other verbs like 'comer' (to eat) and 'aprender' (to learn).

Mixing up 'vender' and 'venderse'

Mistake: “Using 'Me vendo un libro' (I sell myself a book).”

Correction: Use 'Vendo un libro' (I sell a book). The reflexive form 'venderse' usually means 'to sell out' or 'to betray oneself'.

comercializar

ko-mer-syah-lee-sarkomerθjaliˈθar

verbB1business
Use 'comercializar' when the focus is on the broader business process of preparing, launching, and promoting a product or service to make it available for sale.
A friendly vendor setting up a colorful fruit stand with neatly stacked crates of apples and oranges.

Examples

La empresa quiere comercializar su nuevo software el próximo año.

The company wants to market its new software next year.

Es ilegal comercializar especies en peligro de extinción.

It is illegal to trade endangered species.

Han decidido comercializar la artesanía local en internet.

They have decided to sell local crafts on the internet.

The Z to C Spelling Swap

In Spanish, the letter 'z' usually changes to 'c' when it's followed by an 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past tense (comercialicé) and all forms of the special 'wish' verb form (subjunctive).

Using an Object

This verb needs something to act on. You don't just 'comercializar' alone; you always comercializar something, like a product or a service.

It's Not Just Ads

Mistake: “Using comercializar to mean 'making a commercial/advertisement'.”

Correction: Use 'hacer un anuncio' for making an ad. Comercializar refers to the whole business process of selling and distributing.

Choosing Between 'Vender' and 'Comercializar'

Learners often confuse 'vender' and 'comercializar' because both relate to selling. Remember that 'vender' is the basic act of selling, while 'comercializar' implies a more strategic and comprehensive process of bringing a product to market.

Related Translations

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