verkaufen vs veräußern
German word comparison
Listen to verkaufen
Listen to veräußern
| verkaufen | veräußern |
|---|---|
ver-KAU-fen verb | [fɛɐ̯ˈɔɪ̯sɐn] (feh-ROY-surn) verb |
| to sell (to transfer ownership of something in exchange for money) | to dispose of or transfer ownership of an asset (formal/legal/business usage) |
How they differ
Veräußern is more formal and typically used in legal, financial or business contexts for transferring ownership of assets (property, shares, goods) and often appears in written or contractual language; verkaufen is the neutral everyday verb for selling.
When to use each
When to use verkaufen: Prefer verkaufen in everyday speech, in shops or when simply saying you sell something to someone.
When to use veräußern: Prefer veräußern in contracts, financial reports, legal texts or when discussing the formal transfer of assets.
Side-by-side examples
- Ich verkaufe mein Auto.
(I am selling my car.) - Die Gesellschaft veräußerte mehrere Immobilien.
(The company disposed of/semi-formally sold several properties.)
Register & nuance: Veräußern is formal and typical in legal, business or administrative registers; it sounds stilted in casual conversation.