Ganhar Conjugation in Portuguese
ganhar means “to win” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 73 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to win, and it is completely regular: ganho, ganhas, ganha, ganhamos, ganhais, ganham. Its pretérito perfeito is ganhei, ganhaste, ganhou, and its participle is ganhado. It also means to earn, as in earning money. This page gives you the complete conjugation of ganhar — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.” — “I win the game.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: ganhar
- English: to win
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: ganhando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: ganhado
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ar verbs; pattern ar in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for ganhar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read ganhar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about ganhar
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ar pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle ganhado. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is ganhando and the past participle is ganhado: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. There is no present participle form listed for this verb in the verified tables. If you know those two forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for ganhar. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganho |
| tu | ganhas |
| ele/ela | ganha |
| nós | ganhamos |
| vós | ganhais |
| eles/elas | ganham |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.” — “I win the game”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhei |
| tu | ganhaste |
| ele/ela | ganhou |
| nós | ganhámos |
| vós | ganhastes |
| eles/elas | ganharam |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu ganhei o jogo ontem.” — “I won the game”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhava |
| tu | ganhavas |
| ele/ela | ganhava |
| nós | ganhávamos |
| vós | ganháveis |
| eles/elas | ganhavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu ganhava o jogo antigamente.” — “I used to win the game”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhara |
| tu | ganharas |
| ele/ela | ganhara |
| nós | ganháramos |
| vós | ganháreis |
| eles/elas | ganharam |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu ganhara o jogo antes do jantar.” — “I had won the game”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganharei |
| tu | ganharás |
| ele/ela | ganhará |
| nós | ganharemos |
| vós | ganhareis |
| eles/elas | ganharão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu ganharei o jogo amanhã.” — “I will win the game”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganharia |
| tu | ganharias |
| ele/ela | ganharia |
| nós | ganharíamos |
| vós | ganharíeis |
| eles/elas | ganhariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu ganharia o jogo um dia.” — “I would win the game”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho ganhado |
| tu | tens ganhado |
| ele/ela | tem ganhado |
| nós | temos ganhado |
| vós | tendes ganhado |
| eles/elas | têm ganhado |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem ganhado o jogo esta semana.” — “He has won the game”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha ganhado |
| tu | tinhas ganhado |
| ele/ela | tinha ganhado |
| nós | tínhamos ganhado |
| vós | tínheis ganhado |
| eles/elas | tinham ganhado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha ganhado o jogo antes do jantar.” — “I had won the game”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei ganhado |
| tu | terás ganhado |
| ele/ela | terá ganhado |
| nós | teremos ganhado |
| vós | tereis ganhado |
| eles/elas | terão ganhado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei ganhado o jogo até amanhã.” — “I will have won the game”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria ganhado |
| tu | terias ganhado |
| ele/ela | teria ganhado |
| nós | teríamos ganhado |
| vós | teríeis ganhado |
| eles/elas | teriam ganhado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria ganhado o jogo ontem.” — “I would have won the game”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhe |
| tu | ganhes |
| ele/ela | ganhe |
| nós | ganhemos |
| vós | ganheis |
| eles/elas | ganhem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu ganhe o jogo.” — “It is important that I win the game”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhasse |
| tu | ganhasses |
| ele/ela | ganhasse |
| nós | ganhássemos |
| vós | ganhásseis |
| eles/elas | ganhassem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu ganhasse o jogo.” — “It was important that I win the game”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ganhar |
| tu | ganhares |
| ele/ela | ganhar |
| nós | ganharmos |
| vós | ganhardes |
| eles/elas | ganharem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu ganhar o jogo, é bom.” — “If I win the game, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | ganha |
| ele/ela | ganhe |
| nós | ganhemos |
| vós | ganhai |
| eles/elas | ganhem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Ganha o jogo!” — “Win the game!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não ganhes |
| ele/ela | não ganhe |
| nós | não ganhemos |
| vós | não ganheis |
| eles/elas | não ganhem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não ganhes o jogo.” — “Do not win the game.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha ganhado |
| tu | tenhas ganhado |
| ele/ela | tenha ganhado |
| nós | tenhamos ganhado |
| vós | tenhais ganhado |
| eles/elas | tenham ganhado |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha ganhado o jogo.” — “It is important that I have won the game”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse ganhado |
| tu | tivesses ganhado |
| ele/ela | tivesse ganhado |
| nós | tivéssemos ganhado |
| vós | tivésseis ganhado |
| eles/elas | tivessem ganhado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse ganhado o jogo.” — “It was important that I had won the game”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver ganhado |
| tu | tiveres ganhado |
| ele/ela | tiver ganhado |
| nós | tivermos ganhado |
| vós | tiverdes ganhado |
| eles/elas | tiverem ganhado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver ganhado o jogo, é bom.” — “If I have won the game, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | ganhando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Ganhando o jogo, aprendo muito.” — “While winning the game, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | ganhado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho ganhado o jogo esta semana.” — “I have won the game.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with ganhar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.” — “I win the game”
- “Tu ganhaste o jogo ontem.” — “You won the game”
- “Ele ganhava o jogo antigamente.” — “He used to win the game”
- “Eu ganharei o jogo amanhã.” — “I will win the game”
- “Tu ganharias o jogo um dia.” — “You would win the game”
- “Ele tem ganhado o jogo esta semana.” — “He has won the game”
- “Eu tinha ganhado o jogo antes do jantar.” — “I had won the game”
- “Tu terás ganhado o jogo até amanhã.” — “You will have won the game”
- “É importante que eu ganhe o jogo.” — “It is important that I win the game”
- “Ganha o jogo!” — “Win the game!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu ganhar o jogo.”
✓ Right: “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.”
The infinitive ganhar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form ganho.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu ganhas o jogo.”
✓ Right: “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.”
ganhas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with ganho.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu ganho o jogo ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu ganhei o jogo ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito ganhei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou ganhado o jogo.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho ganhado o jogo esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of ganhar is formed with ter plus the past participle ganhado: the eu form is tenho ganhado. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu ganho o jogo.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu ganhe o jogo.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use ganhe here, not the indicative ganho.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho ganhando o jogo.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho ganhado o jogo esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle ganhado, not the gerund ganhando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on ganhar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of ganhar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) ganhas
- B) ganho
- C) ganha
- D) ganhamos
What is the ele/ela form of ganhar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) ganhei
- B) ganhaste
- C) ganhou
- D) ganhámos
What is the nós form of ganhar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) ganhava
- B) ganhavas
- C) ganháveis
- D) ganhávamos
What is the tu form of ganhar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) ganharás
- B) ganharei
- C) ganhará
- D) ganharemos
What is the eu form of ganhar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) ganharias
- B) ganharia
- C) ganharíamos
- D) ganharíeis
What is the ele/ela form of ganhar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho ganhado
- B) tens ganhado
- C) tem ganhado
- D) temos ganhado
What is the ele/ela form of ganhar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) ganhes
- B) ganhemos
- C) ganheis
- D) ganhe
What is the eu form of ganhar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) ganhasse
- B) ganhasses
- C) ganhássemos
- D) ganhásseis
What is the gerund of ganhar?
- A) ganhado
- B) ganhando
- C) ganhar
- D) ganho
What does ganhar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to win
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) ganho — the correct form is ganho. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) ganhou — the correct form is ganhou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ganhávamos — the correct form is ganhávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) ganharás — the correct form is ganharás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) ganharia — the correct form is ganharia. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem ganhado — the correct form is tem ganhado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ganhe — the correct form is ganhe. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) ganhasse — the correct form is ganhasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) ganhando — the correct form is ganhando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to win — the correct form is to win. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does ganhar mean in English?
ganhar means “to win”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is ganhar regular or irregular?
ganhar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is ganhando and the past participle is ganhado.
What are the gerund and past participle of ganhar?
The gerund is ganhando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is ganhado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho ganhado.
Which auxiliary does ganhar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
ganhar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho ganhado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle ganhado.
How do I say “I win” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu ganho o jogo todos os dias.” — “I win the game” The eu form of the present is ganho, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of ganhar — every tense of ganhar in one place.
- Ganhar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Ganhar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese present tense guide — the full guide to the present tense in Portuguese.
- Pagar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Comprar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise ganhar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise ganhar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise ganhar with the interactive tool.