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ganar means to win / to earn — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 2, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

ganar

verb • /[gah-NAR]/

to win / to earn

Example:

Ella quiere ganar más experiencia.

She wants to gain more experience.

🧠 What does ganar mean?

The verb 'ganar' has two primary meanings. The first and most common is 'to win,' used in contexts of competitions, games, prizes, or elections. The second important meaning is 'to earn' or 'to make,' referring to money or a salary through work. It can also be used more broadly to mean 'to gain,' such as gaining weight ('ganar peso'), gaining time ('ganar tiempo'), or earning someone's respect ('ganar el respeto de alguien').

📚 Extra examples

  • Nuestro equipo ganó el campeonato el año pasado.
    Our team won the championship last year.
  • ¿Cuánto dinero ganas en tu nuevo trabajo?
    How much money do you earn in your new job?
  • Se ganó la confianza de su jefe con su dedicación.
    She earned her boss's trust with her dedication.
  • Si tomamos este atajo, ganaremos diez minutos.
    If we take this shortcut, we will gain ten minutes.
  • Es difícil ganar una discusión con él.
    It's difficult to win an argument with him.

💡 Did You Know?

The reflexive form 'ganarse' often carries the nuance of earning something through personal effort or merit. A very common phrase is 'ganarse la vida,' which means 'to earn a living' and highlights the effort involved in supporting oneself.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "ganar"

Synonyms: vencer, triunfar, cobrar, percibir, obtener
Opposites: perder, gastar

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to win' or 'to earn' in Spanish?
The verb 'ganar' is used for both 'to win' (a game, a prize) and 'to earn' (a salary, money).
How do you pronounce 'ganar' in Spanish?
'Ganar' is pronounced gah-NAHR, with the stress on the final syllable. The 'g' is hard, like in the English word 'go'.
How do you use 'ganar' in a sentence?
You can use it to talk about winning a competition, for example: 'Ella quiere ganar la carrera.' (She wants to win the race). Or to talk about income: 'Él trabaja mucho para ganar más dinero.' (He works a lot to earn more money).
What is the English translation of 'ganar'?
The most common English translations for 'ganar' are 'to win' and 'to earn.' It can also mean 'to gain'.
Does 'ganar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'ganar' is conjugated to match the subject, not for gender or number. For example, 'yo gano' (I win/earn), 'ellos ganan' (they win/earn). The past participle 'ganado' can change to 'ganada' when used as an adjective.
Is 'ganar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'ganar' is an extremely common and essential verb used daily in conversations about sports, work, finances, and achievements.
Does 'ganar' have slang or double meanings?
While the core meanings are 'to win' and 'to earn,' the common idiomatic expression 'ganarse la vida' means 'to make a living.' The reflexive form 'ganarse algo' often emphasizes that something was obtained through personal effort, like 'ganarse el respeto' (to earn respect).
Is 'ganar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the usage of 'ganar' is consistent across all Spanish-speaking regions. Its primary meanings of winning and earning are universally understood.
How do you conjugate 'ganar' in Spanish?
'Ganar' is a regular -ar verb. The present tense conjugation is: yo gano, tú ganas, él/ella/usted gana, nosotros/as ganamos, vosotros/as ganáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes ganan.

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