How To Say ‘Sold’ In Spanish | Translation & Usage Rules

Learning a new language often involves more than swapping one word for another. Usage depends heavily on the situation. If you walk into a store, sell a house, or convince a friend about a plan, the Spanish word for “sold” changes. Context dictates whether you use a verb, an adjective, or a specific idiom.

This guide breaks down exactly how to use these terms so you sound natural and accurate in every scenario. We will look at grammar rules, common retail phrases, and the essential differences between selling an item and being “sold out” of stock.

The Primary Translation: Using Vendido Correctly

The standard translation you will find in any dictionary for “sold” is vendido. This word comes from the verb vender (to sell). You generally use this in two specific grammatical ways: as a past participle in perfect tenses or as an adjective describing a noun.

Using Vendido as an Adjective

When you describe an item that someone has already bought, vendido functions as an adjective. In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they describe.

• Masculine Singular: El coche está vendido. (The car is sold.)
• Feminine Singular: La casa está vendida. (The house is sold.)
• Masculine Plural: Los boletos están vendidos. (The tickets are sold.)
• Feminine Plural: Las galletas están vendidas. (The cookies are sold.)

Grammar Note: You usually use the verb estar (to be) with vendido because it indicates the current state or condition of the item. Using ser is rare in this context unless you are speaking in the passive voice regarding the action of the sale itself.

Using Vendido in Compound Tenses

You also use vendido to form the perfect tense. This allows you to say sentences like “I have sold” or “We have sold.” In this case, vendido does not change form; it remains masculine singular regardless of the subject.

• He vendido mi coche. (I have sold my car.)
• Hemos vendido todo. (We have sold everything.)

How To Say ‘Sold’ In Spanish When Items Are Gone (Agotado)

A major confusion point for English speakers arises in retail settings. If you go to a store and a product is unavailable, English speakers say it is “sold out.” If you translate this literally as “está vendido,” a native speaker might understand, but it sounds unnatural.

The correct term for “sold out” or “out of stock” is agotado. This comes from the verb agotar, which means to exhaust or run out.

• Correct: El nuevo videojuego está agotado. (The new video game is sold out.)
• Incorrect: El nuevo videojuego está vendido fuera. (This makes no sense in Spanish.)

You use agotado exactly like vendido regarding gender and number agreement.

• Check the label — Look for signs saying “Agotado” on shelves to know if inventory is empty.
• Ask the clerk — You can ask, “¿Están agotadas las entradas?” (Are the tickets sold out?).

Conjugating Vender: How To Say “I Sold” In The Past Tense

Sometimes you need to express the action of selling rather than the state of an item. This requires conjugating the verb vender in the preterite tense (simple past). This is essential for storytelling or business reporting.

Preterite Tense of Vender

Use this tense when the action happened once and is complete. For example, “Yesterday, I sold my bike.”

Subject Pronoun	Spanish Conjugation	English Meaning
Yo	Vendí	I sold
Tú	Vendiste	You sold (informal)
Él/Ella/Usted	Vendió	He/She/You sold
Nosotros/Nosotras	Vendimos	We sold
Vosotros/Vosotras	Vendisteis	You all sold (Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Vendieron	They/You all sold

Examples in Conversation

Look at these examples:

• Juan vendió su guitarra. (Juan sold his guitar.)
• Nosotros vendimos la casa el año pasado. (We sold the house last year.)
• ¿Vendiste tú los libros? (Did you sell the books?)

Real Estate And Signs: Se Vende Vs. Vendido

Real estate terminology differs slightly from standard conversation. If you drive through a Spanish-speaking neighborhood, you will see specific signs placed on properties.

Se Vende (For Sale)

You rarely see a sign that says “Para Venta.” The standard sign reads Se Vende. This uses the reflexive “passive se” structure, literally translating to “It sells itself,” but meaning “For Sale.”

Vendido (Sold)

Once the transaction closes, the realtor slaps a sticker over the sign that simply reads Vendido. In this context, it stands alone as a declaration of the property’s status.

Retail And Shopping Phrases Involving ‘Sold’

Shopping requires a mix of specific vocabulary. Whether you are a shop owner or a customer, these phrases help clarify the status of products.

Se Vende Por Separado (Sold Separately)

You see this on toy boxes or electronics packaging. It indicates that batteries or accessories are not in the box.

Los Más Vendidos (Best Sellers)

If you browse Amazon.es or a bookstore, you will look for the section labeled Los más vendidos. This translates directly to “The most sold,” which is the Spanish equivalent of “Best Sellers.”

Recién Vendido (Just Sold)

Real estate agents or auctioneers use this to indicate a transaction happened moments ago.

Figurative Speech: Being Sold On An Idea

English speakers frequently use “sold” to mean they are convinced about something. You might say, “I’m sold on this vacation plan.” If you translate this literally to “estoy vendido,” you are making a mistake. In Spanish, “estoy vendido” can mean you are in a vulnerable position or have been betrayed (sold out).

To express that you are convinced or persuaded, use convencido.

• English concept: I am sold on the idea.
• Spanish translation: Estoy convencido con la idea.
• Alternative: Me has convencido. (You have sold/convinced me.)

Another option for a sales context is comprar la idea (to buy the idea), which is becoming more common in business slang, but convencido remains the standard correct grammar.

Common Mistakes When Translating Sold

Errors happen when learners force English grammar onto Spanish vocabulary. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures you communicate clearly.

Mistake 1: Using Ser instead of Estar

Don’t say: El coche es vendido. (Unless you mean “The car is being sold” right now in a passive voice action).

Do say: El coche está vendido. (The car is in the state of being sold).

Mistake 2: Confusing Vender and Comprar

It sounds simple, but in the heat of conversation, learners flip these. Vender is to sell; Comprar is to buy. A helpful mnemonic is that Vender sounds like “Vendor” (someone who sells).

Mistake 3: The “Sold Out” Trap

Remember, vendido means someone bought it. Agotado means the shop has no more.

Reflexive Usage: Se Vendió

Spanish speakers love the reflexive voice. Instead of saying “We sold all the tickets,” they might say “The tickets sold out” (meaning they sold themselves). This puts the focus on the item rather than the seller.

• Example: Todo se vendió muy rápido. (Everything sold very quickly.)
• Example: El pan se vende bien aquí. (Bread sells well here.)

This structure is incredibly common in business reports or casual comments about market trends.

Practice Dialogue: At The Electronics Store

Seeing how to say ‘sold’ in Spanish within a real conversation helps cement the knowledge. Here is a typical interaction between a customer (Cliente) and a shop assistant (Dependiente).

Cliente: Hola, busco el nuevo teléfono que salió ayer.

Dependiente: Lo siento, ese modelo ya está agotado. Fue un éxito total.

Cliente: ¡Qué lástima! ¿Tienen alguno en el almacén?

Dependiente: No, el último se vendió hace diez minutos. Pero puedo pedir uno para usted.

Cliente: Bueno, si son los más vendidos, deben ser buenos. Esperaré.

In this short exchange, you see agotado describing the lack of stock, se vendió describing the action of the sale, and más vendidos describing the popularity of the item.

Regional Variations And Slang

While vendido is universal, slang changes from country to country. In some contexts, being “vendido” implies a person has no principles or is a “sell-out.”

• Political context: Él es un vendido. (He is a sell-out/corrupt.)
• Sports context: ¡Árbitro vendido! (Sold ref!/Biased referee!)

Use caution when applying this word to people rather than objects. When referring to products, however, you are safe using the standard terms across Spain and Latin America.

Advanced Grammar: The Passive Voice

In formal writing or news reports, you might encounter the true passive voice using ser + participio. This emphasizes the action by an agent.

Structure: El cuadro fue vendido por el artista. (The painting was sold by the artist.)

This differs from está vendido (result) or se vendió (reflexive). You use the preterite of ser (fue/fueron) followed by the participle. Note that in this structure, the participle must agree with the subject.

• Singular: La joya fue vendida.
• Plural: Las joyas fueron vendidas.

Why Context Is Everything In Spanish Translation

Direct translation apps often fail because they lack context. If you type “sold” into a translator, it gives you “vendido.” But if you wanted to say “I’m sold on that idea” or “The concert is sold out,” that single word fails you.

Mastering these nuances separates a beginner from an intermediate speaker. Start by memorizing the difference between the physical sale (vender) and the inventory status (agotar). Once you own that distinction, your shopping and business conversations will flow much smoother.

Key Takeaways: How To Say ‘Sold’ In Spanish

➤ Use Vendido as the standard translation — This is the past participle of “vender” and works for general sales.

➤ Say Agotado for “Sold Out” — Never use “vendido” when you mean an item is out of stock in a store.

➤ Match gender and number — Adjectives must agree with the noun (e.g., “La casa vendida,” “Los coches vendidos”).

➤ Use Convencido for ideas — If you are “sold” on a plan or idea, use the verb “convencer,” not “vender.”

➤ Conjugate for the past tense — Use “vendí” (I sold) or “vendió” (he/she sold) when narrating a past action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between “Se vende” and “Vendido”?

“Se vende” means “For Sale” and indicates the item is currently on the market. “Vendido” means “Sold” and indicates the transaction is complete. You see “Se vende” on signs before a house sells, and a “Vendido” sticker placed over it afterward.

Can I use “Soldado” to mean sold?

No, “Soldado” means “Soldier.” This is a classic false friend for English speakers who try to add “-ado” to the English word “Sold.” The verb is “Vender,” so the correct participle is “Vendido.” Mixing these up leads to confusing sentences about military personnel.

How do I say “Best Seller” in Spanish?

The phrase is “El más vendido” (The most sold) or “Best-seller” (English loanwords are common in some regions). In a bookstore, look for the section labeled “Los libros más vendidos.” It refers to volume of sales rather than a specific title.

Is “Vendido” used for betrayals?

Yes. Calling a person “un vendido” is an insult. It implies they are a “sell-out,” someone who has compromised their integrity for money or power. This is common in political discussions or sports when fans believe a referee is biased.

How do I say “Sold Separately”?

The phrase is “Se vende por separado.” You will find this usually in small print on packaging for toys, electronics, or appliances. It signals that necessary components, like batteries or cables, are not included in the box you are buying.

Wrapping It Up – How To Say ‘Sold’ In Spanish

Navigating the vocabulary of sales in Spanish requires attention to detail. While “vendido” is your go-to word for completed transactions, remember that “agotado” saves you from embarrassment when asking about stock levels. By applying the correct gender agreements and using the right verb tenses, you ensure your Spanish sounds polished and professional.

Whether you are putting a “Se Vende” sign on a property or telling a friend you are “convencido” about a trip, using the right term makes all the difference. Keep practicing these variations, and you will navigate any marketplace with confidence.