ganaba

Ganaba is the first- or third-person singular imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb ganar, meaning to win or to earn. In this tense, ganaba describes past actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual, or sets the scene in narrative past.

In everyday usage, ganaba can express that someone used to earn money or used to win regularly in the past. Examples include: “Cuando trabajaba, ganaba poco” (When I worked, I earned little) or “Él ganaba siempre cuando participaba en esa competencia” (He used to win whenever he participated in that competition). It can also appear in phrases about making a living, such as “se ganaba la vida trabajando como maestro” (he earned a living by working as a teacher).

Ganaba contrasts with other tenses of ganar: ganaba is imperfect, while ganó is the simple past (preterite) indicating a completed action, and gana is the present tense. The imperfect aspect often implies habit, repetition, or background information in past narratives.

Etymologically, ganaba derives from ganar, a regular -ar verb meaning to win or to earn. The form is widely used across Spanish-speaking regions and appears in both formal writing and everyday speech to convey past gradual or habitual earning or winning.

Aside from its verbal use, ganaba is rarely used as a standalone noun or proper name. It is primarily understood as a verb form and does not denote a specific place or entity in standard reference works.