Published December 27, 2023 • Updated September 10, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Gagner meaning
Gagner is a common A1 French verb meaning “to win” or “to earn.” It’s used for winning games, competitions, elections, prizes, or money, as in gagner un match (to win a game) and gagner au loto (to win the lottery). It can also mean “to earn,” especially in expressions such as gagner de l’argent (to earn money) and gagner sa vie (to earn a living).
Gagner pronunciation
The IPA pronunciation of gagner is /ɡa.ɲe/, which sounds approximately like “gah-nyay.”
Gagner example sentences
Notre équipe joue vraiment bien et on gagne le match !
Our team played really well and won the game!
Le parti politique a gagné aux élections et maintenant le pays est en désordre !
The political party won the election and now the country is a mess!
Si je gagne au loto j’achèterai une maison près d’une station de ski.
If I win the lottery I’ll buy a house near a ski resort.
Je gagne ma vie en donnant des cours de français.
I earn a living giving French classes.
Louise travaille tout le temps et gagne bien sa vie.
Louise works all the time and makes a good living.
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- gagner — to win, to earn
- remporter — to win, to take (a prize/title)
- vaincre — to defeat, to overcome
- perdre — to lose
- gagner sa vie — to earn a living
- gagner du temps — to save time
- gagner de l’argent — to make money
🪶 Word origin
Gagner comes from Old French gaa(i)gnier, meaning “to earn, gain, or acquire,” likely from a Germanic root related to profit or advantage. Over time, its meaning expanded to include both “to earn” and “to win.”
📚 Related lessons
👉 Gagner conjugation chart »
👉 Regagner ses pénates (expression) »
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