ganaste
“ganaste” means “you won” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you won
Also: you beat, you succeeded
📝 In Action
¡Felicidades! Vi el partido, realmente **ganaste** por poco.
A1Congratulations! I saw the game, you really won by a little bit.
¿Cómo **ganaste** la lotería? ¡Dime tu secreto!
A2How did you win the lottery? Tell me your secret!
Corriste muy rápido. **Ganaste** la carrera fácilmente.
A1You ran very fast. You won the race easily.
you earned
Also: you acquired
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto dinero **ganaste** en tu último trabajo?
A2How much money did you earn in your last job?
Trabajaste mucho, **ganaste** el respeto de todos.
B1You worked hard, you earned everyone's respect.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ganaste" in Spanish:
you acquired→you beat→you earned→you succeeded→you won→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ganaste
Question 1 of 2
If your friend just told you they got a huge raise, which translation of 'ganaste' applies?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *ganar* comes from Old Spanish, likely rooted in ancient Germanic words related to grazing animals (Frankish *waidanjan*). This original meaning of 'acquiring' or 'taking possession' evolved into the modern sense of 'winning' or 'earning' money or spoils.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ganaste' used in Latin America or only Spain?
**Ganaste** is used in all Spanish-speaking regions. It is simply the past tense form for 'tú'. However, in parts of Latin America where *voseo* (using 'vos' instead of 'tú') is common, the form might change to 'ganaste' (same as tú) or 'ganás' (present tense) depending on the country.
How do I say 'You won' but for a group of people?
If you are talking to a group of people, you would use the 'ustedes' form, which is **ganaron** (Ustedes ganaron). If you are in Spain and speaking to a group informally (vosotros), you would say **ganasteis**.