When learning Croatian, two essential verbs that you’ll come across frequently are **kupiti** (to buy) and **prodati** (to sell). These verbs are fundamental for everyday conversations, especially if you’re navigating marketplaces, shopping, or engaging in business transactions. Understanding how to use these verbs in various contexts will greatly enhance your fluency and confidence in the Croatian language. Let’s dive into the specific vocabulary related to buying and selling in Croatian, along with example sentences to solidify your understanding.

Basic Verbs: Kupiti and Prodati

Kupiti – to buy. This verb is used when you are acquiring something in exchange for money.
Moram kupiti kruh u trgovini.

Prodati – to sell. Use this verb when you are giving something to someone else in exchange for money.
Želim prodati svoj stari automobil.

Associated Nouns

Kupac – buyer. This noun refers to the person who is buying something.
Kupac je zadovoljan uslugom.

Prodavač – seller. This noun refers to the person who is selling something.
Prodavač mi je ponudio popust.

Proizvod – product. This noun is used to describe the item that is being bought or sold.
Ovaj proizvod je vrlo popularan.

Cijena – price. This noun refers to the amount of money required to buy something.
Koja je cijena ovog proizvoda?

Trgovina – store/shop. This noun refers to the place where buying and selling take place.
Idem u trgovinu po namirnice.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Jeftin – cheap. This adjective describes something that costs little money.
Ovaj proizvod je vrlo jeftin.

Skuplji – more expensive. This adjective is used when comparing prices, indicating that something costs more.
Ovaj model je skuplji od prethodnog.

Brzo – quickly. This adverb describes the speed at which something is done.
Moramo brzo obaviti kupnju.

Povoljno – affordably. This adverb describes buying something at a good price.
Uspio sam povoljno kupiti novi telefon.

Common Phrases and Expressions

Koliko košta? – How much does it cost? This is a common question when you want to know the price of an item.
Koliko košta ova torba?

Imate li popust? – Do you have a discount? This phrase is useful when you are looking for a reduced price.
Imate li popust za studente?

Treba mi račun. – I need a receipt. This phrase is important when you want proof of purchase.
Treba mi račun za ovu kupnju.

Mogu li platiti karticom? – Can I pay by card? This is a useful phrase if you prefer to use a credit or debit card.
Mogu li platiti karticom?

Želim vratiti ovo. – I want to return this. Use this phrase if you need to return an item.
Želim vratiti ovo, nije ispravno.

Advanced Vocabulary

Pregovarati – to negotiate. This verb is used when discussing terms to reach a mutual agreement.
Moramo pregovarati o cijeni.

Transakcija – transaction. This noun refers to the act of buying or selling something.
Transakcija je uspješno završena.

Zaliha – stock. This noun refers to the goods available for sale.
Provjerit ću imamo li to na zalihi.

Izlog – display window. This noun refers to the front window of a shop where items are displayed.
Proizvodi u izlogu su vrlo atraktivni.

Ugovor – contract. This noun refers to a written agreement between buyer and seller.
Potpisali smo ugovor o kupnji.

Poštarina – postage. This noun refers to the cost of sending something by mail.
Poštarina je uključena u cijenu.

Garancija – warranty. This noun refers to a guarantee provided by the seller regarding the condition of the product.
Ovaj proizvod dolazi s dvogodišnjom garancijom.

Rok isporuke – delivery time. This noun refers to the time frame within which a product will be delivered.
Rok isporuke je pet radnih dana.

Dialogue Examples

To further illustrate the use of **kupiti** and **prodati**, as well as the associated vocabulary, let’s look at a sample dialogue between a buyer and a seller.

Kupac: Dobar dan, koliko košta ova jakna?
Dobar dan, koliko košta ova jakna?

Prodavač: Dobar dan, cijena ove jakne je 500 kuna.
Dobar dan, cijena ove jakne je 500 kuna.

Kupac: Imate li popust na ovu jaknu?
Imate li popust na ovu jaknu?

Prodavač: Nažalost, trenutno nemamo popust, ali možemo pregovarati.
Nažalost, trenutno nemamo popust, ali možemo pregovarati.

Kupac: Može li biti 450 kuna?
Može li biti 450 kuna?

Prodavač: Slažem se, možemo prodati za 450 kuna. Trebate li račun?
Slažem se, možemo prodati za 450 kuna. Trebate li račun?

Kupac: Da, molim vas. Mogu li platiti karticom?
Da, molim vas. Mogu li platiti karticom?

Prodavač: Naravno, prihvaćamo kartice.
Naravno, prihvaćamo kartice.

Common Pitfalls and Tips

1. **Verb Conjugations**: Both **kupiti** and **prodati** need to be conjugated correctly according to the subject and tense. For example:
– I buy: kupujem
– He/She buys: kupuje
– I sold: prodao/prodala sam
– He/She sold: prodao/prodala je

Sutra kupujem novi mobitel.
Jučer sam prodao stari bicikl.

2. **Gender Agreement**: Croatian is a gendered language, so be mindful of the gender of nouns and adjectives. For instance, “jeftin” becomes “jeftina” when referring to a feminine noun.
Ova haljina je jeftina.

3. **Formal vs. Informal Speech**: When addressing someone in a formal context, use the formal “vi” form instead of the informal “ti”.
Mogu li vam pomoći?

4. **Cultural Context**: Bargaining is more common in some cultures than others. In Croatian markets, it’s often acceptable to negotiate the price, but this might not be the case in more formal retail settings.

Practice Exercises

1. Translate the following sentences into Croatian:
– I want to buy this book.
– How much does this cost?
– Can I get a discount?

Želim kupiti ovu knjigu.
Koliko ovo košta?
Mogu li dobiti popust?

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of **kupiti** or **prodati**:
– Oni _______ novi stan.
– Ja sam _______ svoj stari laptop.

Oni kupuju novi stan.
Ja sam prodao svoj stari laptop.

3. Match the Croatian word with its English translation:
– Trgovina
– Cijena
– Kupac

a. Buyer
b. Price
c. Store

Trgovina – c. Store
Cijena – b. Price
Kupac – a. Buyer

By practicing these vocabulary words and phrases, you’ll become more confident in your ability to communicate effectively in buying and selling scenarios in Croatian. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and consistency is key. Happy learning!