팔다
palda[pʰa̠ɭda̠]
The English verb 'sell' is translated into Korean as 팔다 (palda). Wiktionary also lists 판매하다 (panmaehada).
Meaning: to agree to transfer goods or provide services for payment (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 팔다 | palda | [pʰa̠ɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 판매하다 | panmaehada | [pʰa̠nmɛɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pʰa̠nme̞ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The verb refers to the act of agreeing to transfer goods or provide services in exchange for payment. In a business context, such as when describing the act of selling products, you will often see the phrase 상품을 판매하다.
Which one should you use?
팔다 is the common, everyday verb used for selling things in casual or general contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the polite form of 팔다, you can use 팔아요 for the present tense, 팔았어요 for the past tense and 팔 거예요 for the future tense.
How do you pronounce it?
palda
Did you know?
- The word 팔다 is a homonym for the word for 'arm'. Depending on the context, 팔을 팔다 could be interpreted as 'selling an arm'.
- In Korean slang, 팔다 is used metaphorically to describe 'selling out' or betraying a friend or a secret for personal gain.
- In traditional Korean markets, vendors may use 팔다 in a rhythmic, chanting style to attract customers, turning the verb into a melodic advertisement.
Examples in context
- 저희 회사는 다양한 상품을 판매하고 있습니다.Our company sells a variety of products.
- 저는 자동차를 팔고 있습니다.I am selling a car.
- 오늘 옷을 팔아 봤어?Did you sell clothes today?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sell” translations and entries 팔다, 판매하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
