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ganan

GAH-nahn/ˈɡanan/

they win, you (all) win

Also: they beat
VerbA1regular ar
Two cheerful people standing on a winner's podium, one holding a shiny gold trophy.
infinitiveganar
gerundganando
past Participleganado

📝 In Action

Los jugadores siempre ganan cuando juegan en casa.

A1

The players always win when they play at home.

¿Ustedes ganan la lotería con frecuencia?

A2

Do you all win the lottery often?

Ellos ganan la carrera por un amplio margen.

B1

They win the race by a wide margin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vencer (to defeat)
  • triunfar (to triumph)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ganar el partido – to win the game
  • ganar la medalla de oro – to win the gold medal

Idioms & Expressions

  • Ganar por goleada – To win by a landslide (by a huge margin)

they earn, you (all) earn

Also: they make
VerbA1regular ar
A person happily receiving payment in the form of paper money from an employer.

📝 In Action

Mis padres ganan muy buen sueldo en esa empresa.

A1

My parents earn a very good salary at that company.

Si trabajan horas extra, ganan más dinero.

A2

If they work overtime, they earn more money.

¿Cuánto ganan ustedes al mes?

A2

How much do you all earn per month?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • ganar un salario – to earn a salary
  • ganar por hora – to earn by the hour

they gain, you (all) gain

VerbB1regular ar
Spain
A very strong, smiling cartoon character flexing their large bicep, illustrating gained strength.

📝 In Action

Si usan el atajo, ganan media hora de viaje.

B1

If they use the shortcut, they gain half an hour of travel time.

Dicen que ganan experiencia trabajando en el extranjero.

B2

They say that they gain experience working abroad.

Los niños siempre ganan peso durante las vacaciones.

B1

The children always gain weight during the holidays.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adquirir (to acquire)
  • obtener (to obtain)

Common Collocations

  • ganar tiempo – to gain time
  • ganar reputación – to gain a reputation

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedgana
yogano
túganas
ellos/ellas/ustedesganan
nosotrosganamos
vosotrosganáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedganaba
yoganaba
túganabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesganaban
nosotrosganábamos
vosotrosganabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedganó
yogané
túganaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesganaron
nosotrosganamos
vosotrosganasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedgane
yogane
túganes
ellos/ellas/ustedesganen
nosotrosganemos
vosotrosganéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedganara/ganase
yoganara/ganase
túganaras/ganases
ellos/ellas/ustedesganaran/ganasen
nosotrosganáramos/ganásemos
vosotrosganarais/ganaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ganan" in Spanish:

they beat→they earn→they gain→they make→they win→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ganan

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'ganan' in the sense of earning money?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish word 'ganar,' which itself likely derived from a Germanic root related to 'desire' or 'covet.' It originally meant 'to acquire cattle or property' before evolving to mean 'to acquire by effort' (to earn) and eventually 'to acquire victory' (to win).

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ganharFrench (Old): gaaignier

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ganan' used for 'you all' (ustedes) or just 'they' (ellos/ellas)?

'Ganan' is used for both! It is the standard form for 'ellos' (they), 'ellas' (they), and 'ustedes' (you all, formal or common in Latin America).

How do I know if 'ganan' means 'win' or 'earn'?

Look at the word that comes after 'ganan.' If it's a competition (carrera, partido, elección), it means 'win.' If it's money (dinero, sueldo), it means 'earn.' If it's something abstract (tiempo, experiencia), it means 'gain.'