French word

commercer

Pronunciation

IPA/komɛʁse/

Meaning

  • verbdeal in ___

Example

Elle commerce des vêtements au marché.

She deals in clothes at the market.

Illustration for commercer (deal in ___)

More examples

Les entreprises commercent avec des partenaires locaux.

Companies do business with local partners.

Core concept

Merchandise passing between traders or customers in exchange for money or other goods.

Common phrases

  • commercer avec

    do business with

  • commercer au détail

    sell at retail

Similar words

vendre: Sell goods to someone in return for payment.
faire du commerce: Conduct a continuing business based on buying and selling goods.

Definition in French

Exercer une activité commerciale consistant à vendre ou échanger des marchandises en vue d'un profit.

Word origin

French formed commercer from commerce, whose history leads to Latin commercium and its elements com- 'together' and merx 'merchandise'.

Usage tips

  • In modern French, commercer has a formal or literary register and is less usual in ordinary conversation than vendre or faire du commerce.

Other meanings

  • do businessverb
  • tradeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word