What does gana in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word gana in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use gana in Spanish.

The word gana in Spanish means desire, attitude, interest, urge, craving, win, earn, win, reach, improve, deserve, win, howl, croak, ok, you win, however you like, very, with enthusiasm, with gusto, with enthusiasm, with whatever you like, with little effort, feel like [doing ], enthusiastically, keenly, grudgingly, work hard, no pain no gain, will to live, be dying to do, be dying to do, not feel like doing, not feel like doing, not feel like, because you feel like it. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word gana

desire

nombre femenino (gen pl (deseo, voluntad)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Sus ganas de triunfar llevarán muy lejos a ese joven empresario.

The desire to succeed will take that young entrepreneur far.

attitude, interest

nombre femenino (gen pl (disposición, interés)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Tus profesoras podrán ser muy buenas, pero se necesitan ganas de aprender para salir adelante en los estudios.

Your teachers might be great but you need to have the right attitude if you want to get ahead in your studies.

urge, craving

nombre femenino (gen pl (antojo, apetencia)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Las ganas de una buena hamburguesa me hicieron romper la dieta.

The craving for a good hamburger made me break my diet.

win

verbo transitivo (premio, beneficio)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Juan ha ganado el primer premio en la lotería.

Juan has just won the lottery jackpot.

earn

verbo transitivo (dinero, sueldo)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Los futbolistas ganan mucho dinero.

Footballers earn a lot of money.

win

verbo transitivo (competencia, partido)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

La selección española ganó el partido.

The Spanish national team won the match.

reach

verbo transitivo (cima, orilla: alcanzar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

La expedición suiza ganó la cima de la montaña.

The Swiss expedition reached the summit.

improve

verbo intransitivo (mejorar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

El salón gana mucho con las cortinas nuevas.

These new curtains have really improved the living room.

deserve

verbo pronominal (castigo: merecer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Juan se ha ganado una bronca por suspender.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Juan studied very hard to become a biologist. He deserves his large salary.

win

verbo pronominal (premio: obtener) (competition, prize)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

No pueden participar del concurso los que se ganaron el primer premio en los últimos tres años.

Anybody who has won first prize in the last three years is not allowed to enter the contest.

howl

verbo intransitivo (animal: aullar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

croak

verbo intransitivo (ave: graznar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

ok, you win

expresión (coloquial (para dar la razón)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

—¿Entonces, me vas a seguir porfiando? —Vale, tú ganas.

however you like

locución adverbial (coloquial (como desee)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Dile que puede gastarse su dinero como le venga en gana. ¡Sigue las instrucciones! No puedes hacer las cosas como te venga en gana.

very

locución adverbial (pospuesto al adjetivo; enfático, coloquial (en exceso)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Lucrecia es pesada con ganas; no sé como la puedes aguantar. Tu primo es muy amable pero es feo con ganas.

Lucrecia is very annoying, I don't know how you can stand her.

with enthusiasm

locución adverbial (pospuesto al verbo (con interés)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Estudia con ganas y verás como apruebas el examen.

Study with enthusiasm and you'll see how you past the exam.

with gusto, with enthusiasm

locución adverbial (pospuesto al verbo (con energía)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Keith Moon tocaba con ganas la guitarra; de hecho, solía acabar rompiéndola.

Keith Moon played the guitar with gusto; actually, he would end up breaking it.

with whatever you like

locución adverbial (coloquial (con lo que desee)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Esta pasta es muy versátil: uno la puede rellenar con lo que le dé la gana. Por lo visto, puedes hacer arte con lo que te dé la gana.

with little effort

locución conjuntiva (enfático (explica una consecuencia)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

La bailarina hizo la rutina con tan pocas ganas que su instructor decidió suspender la lección.

Since the dancer did her routine with little effort, her instructor decided to suspend the class.

feel like [doing ]

locución verbal (querer que algo suceda)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Si a mí me da la gana que no venga, no viene y punto.

If I feel like not inviting him over, he won't be coming over and that's that.

enthusiastically, keenly

locución adverbial (con buena disposición) (formal)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Al principio parecía reacio, pero al final participó de buena gana.

At first, he seemed reluctant, but in the end he participated enthusiastically.

grudgingly

locución adverbial (con desgana, con desagrado)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

La vendedora aceptó cambiarme el vestido por uno nuevo pero lo hizo de mala gana.

The sales rep went to change the dress for a newer one but she did it grudgingly.

work hard

locución verbal (MX: coloquial (poner empeño en algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

En un día normal me podía ganar unos dos mil pesos; tres mil si le echaba ganas. ¡Échale ganas, mi buen!

On a normal day I could earn about two thousand pesos; three thousand if I work hard. Work hard, my friend!

no pain no gain

expresión (se deben tomar ciertos riesgos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Dejar mi empleo para crear mi propia empresa parecía una movida peligrosa pero el que no arriesga no gana.

Leaving my job to create my own company seemed like a risky move but no pain no gain.

will to live

(deseo de disfrutar la vida)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

El accidente que sufrimos fue tremendo pero no perdí las ganas de vivir.

The accident we had was serious but I didn't lose the will to live.

be dying to do

locución verbal (coloquial, figurado (desear algo intensamente) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

—Me voy dos días a la costa. ¿Quieres venir? —¡Muero de ganas!

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I'm dying to go on holiday - work has been really tough lately.

be dying to do

locución verbal (desear intensamente hacer algo) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Se ve que muere de ganas por ir con nosotros. Muero de ganas por verte hoy.

It's obvious she's dying to come with us. I'm dying to see you today.

not feel like doing

locución verbal (no sentir deseo de hacer algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

No soy ningún tacaño: no voy a salir simplemente porque no me da la gana.

not feel like doing

locución verbal (desaprobación (negarse a hacer algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

A Fabiola no le dio la gana llevar a su hermana a la escuela.

not feel like

locución verbal (con subjuntivo (negarse a que algo suceda)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Lo siento por ella pero a esta casa no volverá a poner un pie sencillamente porque a mí no me da la gana que ustedes se vean.

because you feel like it

locución verbal (desear, querer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Armando se fue de la casa porque le vino en gana: nadie lo estaba echando. ¡No puedes irte de fiesta y llegar a deshoras cuando te venga en gana!

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