Both translate to 'ganar' in Spanish, but each wins in a very different way.
Verb. To come first in a competition, contest, or game by defeating others.
Our team won the championship!
¡Nuestro equipo ganó el campeonato!
She won first prize in the competition.
Ella ganó el primer premio en el concurso.
He has won three gold medals in his career.
Él ha ganado tres medallas de oro en su carrera.
Verb. To gain money, respect, or something valuable through effort, work, or merit.
She earns $50,000 a year.
Ella gana $50,000 al año.
You need to earn people's trust.
Necesitas ganarte la confianza de las personas.
He earned his degree after four years of hard work.
Él ganó su título después de cuatro años de trabajo duro.
Common mistake
Using 'win' for money or 'earn' for competitions. Wrong: "She wins $3,000 a month." (correct: She earns $3,000 a month.) or "He earned the race." (correct: He won the race.)
Trick to remember it
'Win' = beat others in a COMPETITION (someone loses). 'Earn' = gain through MERIT or WORK (you deserve it). Is there a loser? Use 'win'. Is there effort being rewarded? Use 'earn'.
Quick rule
Did you gain it by beating someone (game, race, contest)? Use 'win'. Did you gain it through work or merit (money, respect, degree)? Use 'earn'.
Did you know?
'Earn' has a rich idiomatic life: 'earn your stripes' means to prove yourself through effort, 'earn a living' means to make money, 'earn respect' means to deserve it through action. All use 'earn' because the gain comes from sustained work.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She _____ $80,000 a year as a software engineer.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Our team _____ the championship for the third year in a row!
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Did you gain it by beating someone (game, race, contest)? Use 'win'. Did you gain it through work or merit (money, respect, degree)? Use 'earn'.
Using 'win' for money or 'earn' for competitions. Wrong: "She wins $3,000 a month." (correct: She earns $3,000 a month.) or "He earned the race." (correct: He won the race.)
'Win' = beat others in a COMPETITION (someone loses). 'Earn' = gain through MERIT or WORK (you deserve it). Is there a loser? Use 'win'. Is there effort being rewarded? Use 'earn'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy