verkaufen German · revision 35376

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=8th century, Old High German|origins=la caupō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɛɐ̯ˈkaʊ̯fən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''verkaufen''' (third-person singular present verkauft, past tense verkaufte, past participle verkauft, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|verkoufen]], [[inh|goh|firkoufen|t=to sell]], [[af|goh|fir-|koufen|t2=to buy, trade]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden 7 2020) The prefix gives the sense “to dispose of by trade”, while the simple verb mostly means acquiring; in the earliest times, when all trade was barter, both meant giving in exchange.^(DWB|25, 618)

+

+ The simple verb [[kaufen]] continues [[gem-pro|*kaupōną|t=to trade]], also in [[got|𐌺𐌰𐌿𐍀𐍉𐌽|tr=kaupōn|t=to trade]], [[non|kaupa]], [[ang|cēapian]] and [[osx|kōpon]].^(Kluge 2011|483)^(Pfeifer 1993) It is a very early borrowing: Kluge and Duden derive it from [[la|caupōnor|t=to haggle, trade]], itself from [[m|la|caupō|t=innkeeper, small trader]], which was borrowed as [[goh|koufo|t=merchant]] and [[ang|cȳpa]].^(Kluge 2011|483)^(Duden 7 2020)^(EWA|5, 727) Pfeifer allows that the Germanic verbs were formed from the borrowed noun.^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden explains that the innkeeper who followed the Roman legions was the Germans' small trader, above all for wine.^(Duden 7 2020) The Latin noun is usually connected with [[grc|κάπηλος|tr=kápēlos|t=retail dealer]], and both are thought to be loanwords.^(EWA|5, 727)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''firkoufen'' “to sell” is recorded in glosses of the 8th century and in the Benediktinerregel, Tatian, Otfrid and Notker.^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|181)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Umlauted forms such as ''verkeufen'' appear in Middle High German, especially in Middle German, and still in Luther, but by the 16th century ''verkaufen'' had almost displaced them.^(DWB|25, 618) A strong past ''verkief'' written by a Frankfurt author of the early 19th century was a false analogy.^(DWB|25, 618)

+

+ Regionally, especially in the south-west, ''sich verkaufen'' means “to make a bad purchase” (Schiller, Hebel), recorded from about 1800.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) The phrase ''verraten und verkauft'' goes back to Luther, and ''jemanden für dumm verkaufen'' “to take someone for a fool” is recorded in literature in 1939.^(Paul 2002) Colloquially people ''verkaufen sich gut'', present themselves well.^(Paul 2002) The noun [[Verkauf]] is an Early New High German back-formation, and ''Verkaufspreis'' is recorded in 1780.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''firkoufen''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 16th century – ''verkaufen'' displaces the umlauted forms; the noun ''Verkauf'' appears.^(DWB|25, 618)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – ''Verkäuferin'' is first recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 1780 – ''Verkaufspreis''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * c. 1800 – Reflexive sense “to make a bad purchase”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1939 – ''jemanden für dumm verkaufen''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|sell]], hand over for money: ''Sie hat ihr altes Fahrrad einem Nachbarn verkauft.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''sich verkaufen'': to sell in a certain way: ''Das Buch verkauft sich gut.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(regional)'' ''sich verkaufen'': to buy something that turns out poor or too dear.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''sich verkaufen'': to sell oneself, put one's services at someone's disposal for money or advantage: ''sich an den Feind verkaufen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' To [[m|en|promote]] a person or idea so that it finds approval;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) ''jemanden für dumm verkaufen'' “to take someone for a fool”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Verkauf]]

+ * [[Verkäufer]]

+ * [[Verkäuferin]]

+ * [[verkäuflich]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[kaufen]]

+ * [[Kauf]]

+ * [[Käufer]]

+ * [[Kaufmann]]

+ * [[en|cheap]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}