Introduction
Triunfar means “to triumph”, and it is one of the verbs you will use again and again in Spanish. Triunfar means to triumph or to succeed, and it is used for winning a match, succeeding in life and triumphing over a difficulty: triunfar en el deporte, triunfar en la vida. It takes en for the area of success. It is a fully regular -ar verb. This page shows triunfar in real sentences, in short dialogues, and in the mistakes learners make most often, and it finishes with a ten-question quiz so you can test yourself. Every sentence below comes with its English translation, and every form is the correct present-tense form unless the sentence is clearly marked as past or future. For a first taste: “Triunfo en el deporte profesional.” — I triumph in professional sport.
Triunfar in real example sentences
The twelve sentences below are grouped by how triunfar is used. Read each one out loud, then read the translation. If a sentence feels useful, copy it into your own notebook with one small change — a different time, a different person, a different place — and you have a new sentence of your own.
In the present: everyday use
These sentences use triunfar in the present tense, which is how you will meet it most often: routines, facts, and things happening now.
“Triunfo en el deporte profesional.” — I triumph in professional sport.
“¿Triunfas en la vida con esfuerzo?” — Do you triumph in life with effort?
“Triunfa en el concurso de canto.” — He/she triumphs in the singing contest.
“Nosotros triunfamos contra todas las dificultades.” — We triumph against all the difficulties.
Talking about the past
The present is not the only tense you need. These sentences show triunfar in the past, so you can talk about what already happened.
“Ayer, yo triunfé en el deporte profesional.” — Yesterday, I triumphed in professional sport. (preterite)
“Antes, él triunfaba en la vida con esfuerzo.” — Before, he used to triumph in life with effort. (imperfect)
Plans and things already done
These sentences look forward, or look back at something already finished. Notice how the verb form changes while the meaning of triunfar stays the same.
“Mañana, nosotros triunfaremos en el concurso de canto.” — Tomorrow, we will triumph in the singing contest. (future)
“¿Tú has triunfado contra todas las dificultades?” — Have you triumphed against all the difficulties? (present perfect)
More everyday uses
Four more present-tense sentences, covering the remaining persons, so you can see the whole table in action.
“Vosotros triunfáis en el deporte profesional.” — You triumph in professional sport.
“Ellos triunfan en la vida con esfuerzo.” — They triumph in life with effort.
“Yo triunfo en el concurso de canto.” — I triumph in the singing contest.
“Mi padre triunfa contra todas las dificultades.” — My father triumphs against all the difficulties.
Triunfar in context
Single sentences teach you the forms. Dialogues teach you when to use them. Read the short conversation below, then the paragraph that follows, and notice how triunfar appears naturally, without anyone stopping to think about conjugation.
A short dialogue
Marta: “¿Tú triunfas en la vida con esfuerzo?” — Do you triumph in life with effort?
Pedro: “Sí, yo triunfo en el deporte profesional.” — Yes, I triumph in professional sport.
Marta: “Nosotros triunfamos contra todas las dificultades.” — We triumph against all the difficulties.
Pedro: “Y ellos triunfan en la vida con esfuerzo.” — And they triumph in life with effort.
Marta: “Vosotros triunfáis en el concurso de canto.” — You triumph in the singing contest.
Pedro: “Sí, y él triunfa en el deporte profesional.” — Yes, and he triumphs in professional sport.
A short paragraph
Triunfa en el deporte profesional, y nosotros triunfamos contra todas las dificultades. Yo triunfo en la vida con esfuerzo, y ellos triunfan en el concurso de canto. Triunfar is part of everyday life, because triumph is something people do in work, at home and with friends, in the present, the past and the future.
Common mistakes with triunfar
These are the errors learners actually make with triunfar. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.
Wrong: “Yo triunfa en el deporte profesional.” Right: “Yo triunfo en el deporte profesional.” Why: The person matters: triunfa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is triunfo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
Wrong: “Ayer yo triunfo en la vida con esfuerzo.” Right: “Ayer yo triunfé en la vida con esfuerzo.” Why: The present and the preterite are different tenses: triunfo is happening now, while triunfé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
Wrong: “Treating triunfar and ganar as identical in every context.” Right: “Triunfar means to triumph, while ganar means to win.” Why: They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: triunfar fits sentences such as Triunfo en el deporte profesional, while ganar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
Wrong: “Yo soy triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo.” Right: “Yo he triunfado en la vida con esfuerzo.” Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he triunfado, has triunfado, ha triunfado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
Wrong: “De niño, yo triunfé en el concurso de canto todos los días.” Right: “De niño, yo triunfaba en el concurso de canto todos los días.” Why: For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (triunfaba), not the preterite. The preterite (triunfé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: triunfar in use
Ten questions on triunfar in real sentences. Choose the correct answer for each one, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained.
1. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ______ en el deporte profesional.” (You triumph in professional sport.)
- (a) triunfáis
- (b) triunfo
- (c) triunfas
Answer: triunfáis — The vosotros/as form of triunfar in the present tense is triunfáis.
2. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ______ en la vida con esfuerzo.” (They triumph in life with effort.)
- (a) triunfas
- (b) triunfan
- (c) triunfo
Answer: triunfan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. form of triunfar in the present tense is triunfan.
3. Complete the sentence (preterite): “Ayer yo ______ en el deporte profesional.” (Yesterday I triumphed in professional sport.)
- (a) triunfaste
- (b) triunfó
- (c) triunfé
Answer: triunfé — In the preterite, the yo form of triunfar is triunfé.
4. Complete the sentence (imperfect): “Antes, él ______ en la vida con esfuerzo.” (Before, he used to triumph in life with effort.)
- (a) triunfaba
- (b) triunfo
- (c) triunfabas
Answer: triunfaba — In the imperfect, the él/ella/Ud. form of triunfar is triunfaba.
5. Complete the sentence (future): “Mañana, nosotros ______ en el concurso de canto.” (Tomorrow we will triumph in the singing contest.)
- (a) triunfarás
- (b) triunfaremos
- (c) triunfaré
Answer: triunfaremos — In the future, the nosotros/as form of triunfar is triunfaremos.
6. What does triunfar mean in English?
- (a) to triumph
- (b) to take (time), to be late
- (c) to win
Answer: to triumph — Triunfar means “to triumph”. The other options are the meanings of different verbs.
7. Which sentence is correct?
- (a) Yo triunfa en el deporte profesional.
- (b) Ellos triunfa en la vida con esfuerzo.
- (c) Yo triunfo en el deporte profesional.
Answer: Yo triunfo en el deporte profesional. — “Yo triunfo en el deporte profesional.” is correct. The other two sentences contain the mistakes explained in the section above.
8. How do you say “I triumph in professional sport.” in Spanish?
- (a) Mi padre triunfa contra todas las dificultades.
- (b) Triunfo en el deporte profesional.
- (c) Triunfan en el deporte profesional.
Answer: Triunfo en el deporte profesional. — “Triunfo en el deporte profesional.” is the correct translation.
9. What is the nosotros form of triunfar in the present tense?
- (a) triunfo
- (b) triunfas
- (c) triunfamos
Answer: triunfamos — The nosotros form is triunfamos.
10. Which of these sentences is in the present tense?
- (a) Mañana, nosotros triunfaremos en el concurso de canto.
- (b) Triunfo en el deporte profesional.
- (c) Ayer, yo triunfé en el deporte profesional.
Answer: Triunfo en el deporte profesional. — “Triunfo en el deporte profesional.” is in the present tense. The other two are in the preterite and the future.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I triumph in professional sport' in Spanish?
Say 'Triunfo en el deporte profesional'. For a routine, add a time expression: 'Triunfo en el deporte profesional todos los días'.
How do you say 'He triumphs in life with effort' in Spanish?
Say 'Él triunfa en la vida con esfuerzo'. The subject comes first, and the verb agrees with it: él takes triunfa.
What is the difference between triunfar and ganar?
Triunfar means to triumph, while ganar means to win. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use triunfar when you mean to triumph, as in 'Triunfo en el deporte profesional', and use ganar for to win.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of triunfar — every tense of triunfar in one place.
- Triunfar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Spanish verbs — the hub for every Spanish verb on VerbFlow.
- Verb quiz — test yourself on triunfar and other verbs.
- Conjugation practice — drill the forms of triunfar until they are automatic.