How to Say "winner" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “winner” is “ganador” — use 'ganador' when referring to the male person or entity that has won a competition, race, or contest.
ganador
gah-nah-DORga.naˈðoɾ
Examples
El ganador de la carrera levantó el trofeo.
The winner of the race lifted the trophy.
¿Quién fue el ganador del debate anoche?
Who was the winner of the debate last night?
El equipo necesita un ganador, no solo un buen jugador.
The team needs a winner, not just a good player.
Gender Change
This word changes gender to match the person: 'ganador' is for a masculine winner, and 'ganadora' is for a feminine winner.
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: “Using the verb form when you need the noun: 'Él es el ganar.'”
Correction: Use the noun form: 'Él es el ganador.' (He is the winner.)
ganadora
gah-nah-DOR-ahɡanaˈðoɾa
Examples
La ganadora del sorteo recibirá un viaje a España.
The winner of the raffle will receive a trip to Spain.
Ella fue la ganadora indiscutible de la carrera.
She was the undisputed winner of the race.
Feminine Ending
This word ends in 'a' because it specifically refers to a female winner. If you were talking about a male winner, you would use 'ganador'.
Gender Agreement
Mistake: “El ganadora”
Correction: La ganadora (or El ganador). Always match the 'the' (article) with the gender of the person.
campeón
Examples
El equipo local es el campeón de la liga de baloncesto.
The local team is the champion of the basketball league.
vencedor
ben-seh-DORbenθeˈðor
Examples
El vencedor de la carrera recibió una medalla de oro.
The winner of the race received a gold medal.
No hubo un vencedor claro en el debate de anoche.
There wasn't a clear winner in last night's debate.
La historia siempre la escriben los vencedores.
History is always written by the victors.
Making it Feminine
To talk about a woman who wins, simply add an 'a' at the end to make it 'vencedora'.
Vencedor vs. Ganador
While both mean 'winner,' 'vencedor' often implies overcoming a specific opponent or a difficult challenge, whereas 'ganador' is more common for things like the lottery.
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: “La vencedor fue María.”
Correction: La vencedora fue María. You must add 'a' when referring to a female winner.
premiado
pre-mya-dopɾeˈmjaðo
Examples
Los premiados subieron al escenario para recoger sus trofeos.
The prizewinners went up on stage to collect their trophies.
El premiado agradeció a su familia en el discurso.
The winner thanked his family in the speech.
Habrá un cóctel en honor a las premiadas después de la ceremonia.
There will be a cocktail party in honor of the female winners after the ceremony.
Groups of People
If you are talking about a group of winners that includes at least one man, use the masculine plural 'los premiados'. Only use 'las premiadas' if every single winner is female.
Confusing 'Premio' and 'Premiado'
Mistake: “El premio subió al escenario.”
Correction: El premiado subió al escenario. 'Premio' is the physical prize (like a trophy), while 'premiado' is the person who receives it.
victor
BEEK-torˈbiktoɾ
Examples
El victor fue recibido con honores a su regreso de la batalla.
The victor was received with honors upon his return from battle.
Solo un victor puede reclamar este premio.
Only a victor can claim this prize.
Masculine Noun
As a noun, 'victor' is always masculine, meaning you use 'el' before it (el victor) and the plural is 'los víctores'.
Ganador vs. Campeón
Related Translations
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