ganarse
/gah-NAHR-seh/
to earn
A person working to earn their living.
ganarse(verb)
to earn
?money or a living through work
to make a living
?supporting oneself financially
📝 In Action
Ella se gana la vida como diseñadora gráfica.
A2She earns a living as a graphic designer.
Es difícil ganarse el pan en estos tiempos.
B1It's hard to put food on the table (earn bread) these days.
💡 Grammar Points
Why the 'se'?
Using 'se' makes the action personal. It implies that you are earning something specifically for your own benefit or through your own personal effort.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't forget the pronoun
Mistake: "Gano la vida en Madrid."
Correction: Me gano la vida en Madrid. (You need 'me' because the phrase 'earn a living' almost always uses this reflexive form in Spanish.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about jobs
When someone asks what you do for work, you can use 'Me gano la vida como...' followed by your profession to sound more natural than just saying 'Soy...'
Gaining affection and trust through kind actions.
📝 In Action
Se ganó el respeto de sus rivales.
B1He earned the respect of his rivals.
Tienes que ganarte su confianza poco a poco.
B1You have to win her trust bit by bit.
💡 Grammar Points
Earning abstract things
Use this form when the 'prize' is something invisible like love or authority that you have to work for.
Moving to and standing in a specific spot.
📝 In Action
Gánate por aquí para que veas mejor.
C1Stand over here so you can see better.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ganarse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I earn a living as a teacher'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ganar' and 'ganarse'?
'Ganar' is usually used for winning a game or earning a specific amount of money (e.g., 'Gané el partido'). 'Ganarse' is used for the ongoing process of earning a living or deserving something abstract like respect or trust.
Is 'ganarse' always reflexive?
Yes, when it has these specific meanings of earning for oneself or winning someone over, it must include the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se).