ganan
/GAH-nahn/
they win
When people succeed in a competition, they win (ganan).
ganan(Verb)
they win
?in a competition or game
,you (all) win
?formal plural address (ustedes)
they beat
?a rival team/opponent
📝 In Action
Los jugadores siempre ganan cuando juegan en casa.
A1The players always win when they play at home.
¿Ustedes ganan la lotería con frecuencia?
A2Do you all win the lottery often?
Ellos ganan la carrera por un amplio margen.
B1They win the race by a wide margin.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'They' Form
Ganan is the verb form used when the people doing the action are 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed) or 'ellas' (they, feminine) or 'ustedes' (you all/y'all).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When talking about sports or games, 'ganar' is always the right word for 'to win,' unlike English which sometimes uses 'beat.'
When people receive payment for work, they earn (ganan) money.
ganan(Verb)
they earn
?money, salary, income
,you (all) earn
?formal plural address (ustedes)
they make
?a salary
📝 In Action
Mis padres ganan muy buen sueldo en esa empresa.
A1My parents earn a very good salary at that company.
Si trabajan horas extra, ganan más dinero.
A2If they work overtime, they earn more money.
¿Cuánto ganan ustedes al mes?
A2How much do you all earn per month?
💡 Grammar Points
Earning vs. Saving
Remember that 'ganar' is only for income you receive through work or effort. Use 'ahorrar' for saving money and 'gastar' for spending it.
When people acquire something like strength or experience, they gain (ganan) it.
ganan(Verb)
they gain
?acquire experience, time, or weight
,you (all) gain
?formal plural address (ustedes)
📝 In Action
Si usan el atajo, ganan media hora de viaje.
B1If they use the shortcut, they gain half an hour of travel time.
Dicen que ganan experiencia trabajando en el extranjero.
B2They say that they gain experience working abroad.
Los niños siempre ganan peso durante las vacaciones.
B1The children always gain weight during the holidays.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gaining Weight
Mistake: "Ellos aumentan peso."
Correction: Ellos ganan peso. In Spanish, 'ganar' is the standard verb for 'to gain weight.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ganan
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ganan' in the sense of earning money?
📚 More Resources
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.'