feriar
sell
Definition & meaning
Feriar is a regional Spanish verb whose meaning depends on context:
- To buy or sell at a fair or market. It can describe either side of a transaction.
- In many parts of Latin America, to change money into smaller denominations—for example, to break a banknote.
- In some Latin American usage, to exchange one thing for another, including by barter.
The money-changing sense is common in everyday requests such as asking someone to break a bill.
Grammar & Word origin
Feriar is a regular -ar verb. Its forms include ferio (I change/buy/sell, depending on context), ferié (I changed/bought/sold), feriado (past participle), and feriando (gerund).
It comes from feria (), meaning a fair or market, and ultimately from Latin feria, referring to a festival or holiday.
Synonyms & antonyms
There is no single synonym that fits all meanings:
- For buying or selling at a market: comprar () or vender (). These specify the buyer’s or seller’s action, while feriar can refer to either one in a fair or market context.
- For changing a bill into smaller money: cambiar () or dar cambio (. These are more explicit about exchanging money.
- For exchanging goods: intercambiar () or trocar (. These focus on the exchange itself.
There is no general antonym. Comprar and vender (, ) are contrasting roles in a transaction, not strict opposites of feriar.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Los artesanos feriaban sus productos cada domingo.verb
The artisans sold their products at the fair every Sunday.
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