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bā'a
to sell
باع (bā'a) is a regular Arabic verb meaning 'to sell' in the past tense. It is one of the most common commercial and everyday verbs used to describe the act of transferring goods or services in exchange for money. The word is fundamental in business, marketplace, and daily transaction contexts.
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باع التاجر البضاعة بسعر منخفض.
Bāʿa al-tājir al-bīḍāʿa bi-siʿr munkhafaḍ.
The merchant sold the goods at a low price.
باعت أمي الذهب القديم للمتجر.
Bāʿat ummī al-dhahab al-qadīm li-l-mutjjar.
My mother sold the old gold to the store.
باعوا المنزل بمليون دولار.
Bāʿū al-manzil bi-milyūn dūlār.
They sold the house for one million dollars.
هل باعت الشركة المنتجات الجديدة؟
Hal bāʿat al-sharika al-muntajāt al-jadīda?
Did the company sell the new products?
باع الفلاح محصوله في السوق.
Bāʿa al-fallāḥ maḥṣūlahu fī al-sūq.
The farmer sold his harvest at the market.
In Arab culture, buying and selling have been central to commerce and community life for centuries, reflected in the vibrant souks and bazaars that remain important social and economic hubs. The verb باع is deeply embedded in business transactions, negotiations, and daily market interactions that are integral to Arab social customs. Understanding this word is essential for anyone engaging in commerce or visiting marketplaces in Arabic-speaking countries.
Remember that باع is the past tense third person masculine singular form. When conjugating, follow the regular verb pattern: بعت (I sold), بعتَ (you sold masculine), بعتِ (you sold feminine), باعت (she sold), باعوا (they sold masculine). The present tense equivalent is يبيع (he sells). Pay attention to the preposition used after the verb—usually 'ب' (bi-) for the price and 'ل' (li-) for the buyer.
The Arabic word باع (bā'a) is a regular past tense verb that means 'to sell.' It is one of the most fundamental verbs in Arabic commerce and everyday communication. Whether you're shopping in a souk, discussing business transactions, or reading Arabic news about commercial activities, you'll encounter this verb frequently.
The root of this verb is ب-ي-ع (b-y-ʿ), which encompasses all meanings related to selling and commerce. Understanding this root helps you recognize and learn related words like بيع (bayyiʿ - selling), بائع (bāʿiʿ - seller), and يبيع (yabīʿ - he sells).
باع is the third person masculine singular past tense form. In Arabic, verbs change based on who is performing the action, so it's essential to understand the different conjugations:
For present tense, the verb changes to يبيع (yabīʿ - he sells), which follows a different pattern due to the weak letter ي in the root.
The verb باع is used in various commercial and everyday situations. When describing a completed sale transaction, you would use this past tense form. For example:
Understanding common phrases using باع will enhance your Arabic communication:
باع بسعر غالي (bāʿa bi-siʿr ghāli) - sold at a high price. This phrase is commonly used to discuss when something is sold expensively.
باع بخسارة (bāʿa bi-khisāra) - sold at a loss. Used when someone sells something for less than they paid for it.
باع بثمن رخيص (bāʿa bi-thaman rakhīṣ) - sold at a cheap price. Indicates selling something inexpensively.
لم يباع (lam yubāʿ) - was not sold. The negative form used when something wasn't sold.
To fully master selling-related discussions in Arabic, learn these connected words:
In Arab culture, commerce and trading have deep historical roots. The famous Islamic Golden Age saw Arab traders dominating trade routes across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Today, the souk (traditional marketplace) remains a vital part of Arab culture, where haggling and negotiation are expected social practices. Understanding how to use selling-related vocabulary reflects respect for local business customs and enables meaningful participation in marketplace interactions.
When learning باع, practice it alongside its antonym اشترى (ishtarā - to buy). These opposing concepts reinforce each other in memory. Additionally, try conjugating the verb with different subjects repeatedly until it becomes automatic. Listen to native speakers discussing commercial transactions in podcasts or videos to internalize the natural pronunciation and usage patterns. Finally, use this verb actively in simple sentences about everyday purchases and sales to solidify your understanding.