ganar
“ganar” means “to win” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
to win
Also: to be victorious
📝 In Action
Mi equipo favorito ganó el partido de fútbol.
A1My favorite team won the soccer game.
¡Ojalá gane la lotería!
A2I hope I win the lottery!
Ella ganó el primer premio en el concurso.
B1She won first prize in the contest.
to earn
Also: to make
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto ganas al mes?
A2How much do you earn per month?
Trabajo mucho para ganar dinero para mi familia.
A2I work a lot to earn money for my family.
Es importante saber cómo ganarse la vida.
B1It's important to know how to earn a living.
to gain
Also: to acquire, to put on
📝 In Action
He ganado un poco de peso durante las vacaciones.
B1I've gained a little weight during the holidays.
Con el tiempo, ganó el respeto de sus colegas.
B1Over time, he gained the respect of his colleagues.
El coche ganó velocidad en la autopista.
B2The car gained speed on the highway.
to beat
Also: to defeat
📝 In Action
Te gané en la carrera.
B1I beat you in the race.
Nuestro equipo le ganó al campeón del año pasado.
B1Our team beat last year's champion.
Es muy difícil ganarle a ella en ajedrez.
B2It's very difficult to beat her at chess.
to reach
Also: to get to
📝 In Action
Tras horas de escalada, por fin ganamos la cumbre.
B2After hours of climbing, we finally reached the summit.
Los náufragos nadaron con todas sus fuerzas hasta ganar la orilla.
C1The castaways swam with all their might until they reached the shore.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ganar" in Spanish:
gain→to acquire→to beat→to defeat→to earn→to gain→to make→to reach→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ganar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ganar' to mean 'to earn'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Gothic word '*ganan*', which meant 'to covet' or 'to desire'. It entered Spanish through a form in everyday spoken Latin, and over time its meaning shifted from just wanting something to actually getting or achieving it.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ganar' and 'vencer'?
They can both mean 'to win' or 'to beat', but there's a small difference in feeling. 'Ganar' is the general, all-purpose word for winning a game, a prize, or earning money. 'Vencer' feels a bit stronger, like 'to defeat' or 'to overcome' an obstacle or a powerful opponent. You 'ganas un partido' (win a game), but you might 'vences a tu mayor rival' (defeat your greatest rival).
Can I say 'hacer dinero' for 'to make money'?
While English speakers say 'make money', this doesn't translate directly to Spanish. The correct and natural way to say it is 'ganar dinero'. Saying 'hacer dinero' is a very common mistake for learners and will sound strange to a native speaker.