gana
“gana” means “desire” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
desire, willAlso: appetite, urge
📝 In Action
Tengo muchas ganas de verte pronto.
A1I really want to see you soon. / I have a big desire to see you soon.
¿Tienes ganas de ir al cine esta noche?
A1Do you feel like going to the movies tonight?
Perdió las ganas de luchar después de la derrota.
B1He lost the will/desire to fight after the defeat.
Word Connections
wins, earnsAlso: gains
📝 In Action
Mi equipo favorito nunca gana los partidos importantes.
A1My favorite team never wins the important games.
Ella gana un salario alto en esa compañía de tecnología.
A2She earns a high salary at that technology company.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gana
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the noun meaning of 'gana'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology
The noun 'gana' (desire) and the verb 'ganar' (to win/earn) likely both trace back to ancient Germanic roots related to 'desire' or 'taking possession.' Their meanings have stayed consistent over time: either possessing a desire or possessing a victory/money.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'gana' usually plural ('ganas') when I want to express desire?
This is simply how Spanish speakers express the feeling! Think of 'ganas' as 'a collection of desires.' Always use 'Tengo ganas de...' to say you want to do something.
Is 'gana' a tricky word because it has two parts of speech?
Yes, but context makes it clear. If you see 'Tengo ganas...' (I have desires), it's the noun. If you see 'Él gana...' (He wins/earns), it's the verb 'ganar.' The difference is usually obvious based on the verb used with it.