The simple present tense of ganar is used to describe actions happening in the present moment or habitual actions. For example, Gano mucho dinero trabajando aquí. (I earn a lot of money working here.)

Ganar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the simple present follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Ganar (to win) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Ganar generally means to win or to earn, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To win: This is the most common meaning, referring to being victorious in a competition or game. For example, Ganamos el partido de fútbol. (We win the soccer game.)

To earn: It can also mean to earn money or income through work. For example, Gano $500 a la semana. (I earn $500 a week.)

To gain: In some contexts, it can mean to gain something, like weight or experience. For example, Gano peso durante las vacaciones. (I gain weight during the holidays.)

To win over: Figuratively, it can mean to win someone over or convince them. For example, Gano su confianza poco a poco. (I win over their trust little by little.)

To outdo: In a colloquial sense, it can mean to outdo or outperform someone. For example, Siempre gano a mi hermano en los videojuegos. (I always outdo my brother in video games.)

To beat (slang): In some slang contexts, it can mean to beat or defeat someone physically, though this usage is considered rude. For example, Si no me pagas, te gano a golpes. (If you don’t pay me, I’ll beat you up.)

Examples

Examples of Ganar in the Present Tense

Cada año, mi equipo gana el campeonato de fútbol. (Every year, my team wins the soccer championship.)

Mis amigos y yo ganamos mucho dinero con nuestro negocio en línea. (My friends and I earn a lot of money with our online business.)

¿Cuánto ganas por hora en tu nuevo trabajo? (How much do you earn per hour at your new job?)

El equipo local siempre gana cuando juega en casa. (The home team always wins when they play at home.)

Ellos ganan bien la vida trabajando duro. (They earn a good living by working hard.)

Aunque no gano mucho, me encanta mi trabajo. (Even though I don’t earn much, I love my job.)

En la lotería, a veces se gana y a veces se pierde. (In the lottery, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.)

Si estudias mucho, ganas buenas calificaciones. (If you study a lot, you get good grades.)

Los atletas profesionales ganan millones de dólares al año. (Professional athletes earn millions of dollars per year.)

Cuando gano la lotería, voy a comprar una casa grande. (When I win the lottery, I’m going to buy a big house.)

En este juego, si ganas, ganas un premio. (In this game, if you win, you get a prize.)

Los que trabajan duro ganan el respeto de los demás. (Those who work hard earn the respect of others.)

Ella siempre gana en los juegos de mesa porque es muy inteligente. (She always wins at board games because she’s very smart.)

Cuando ganamos un concurso, celebramos con nuestros amigos. (When we win a contest, we celebrate with our friends.)

Los mejores equipos ganan la mayoría de los partidos. (The best teams win most of the games.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Ganar (to win) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.