Je gagne
The English phrase "I win" is translated into French as Je gagne.
Je gagne is used to announce that you are currently winning or have won a game or competition.
What does it mean word for word?
Je means "I" and gagne is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb gagner, meaning "to win".
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense Je gagne can be used to express both a habitual action and a continuous action happening right now (I win or I am winning).
Did you know?
- The word gagner comes from the Old French gaaigner, which originally meant 'to obtain' or 'to reach a destination'. This is why the word can refer to both winning a prize and gaining ground.
- While 'I win' is a complete thought in English, a French speaker might simply shout Gagné! to announce a victory, using the past participle as an exclamation.
- While gagner means 'to win', it is also the standard French word for 'to earn' a salary. A French speaker might say Je gagne ma vie to mean 'I earn my living'.
Examples in context
- Pile je gagne, face tu perds.Heads I win, tails you lose.This sentence shows how to use Je gagne in a heads or tails context.Tatoeba #1440827 by sacredceltic, translation #37890 by CK
- Plus je joue, moins je gagne !The more I play, the less I win!This sentence shows how the phrase functions within a comparison.Tatoeba #13558658 by sacredceltic, translation #13580199 by rul
- Si je gagne à la loterie, je pourrai avoir la belle vie.If I win the lottery, I'll be able to live high on the hog.This sentence shows how to use Je gagne in a conditional statement about winning the lottery.Tatoeba #10711531 by lbdx, translation #320983 by CK
- J'ai tout raflé! Je suis le champion!I scooped it all! I am the champion!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a board game at home.
- ManonJe gagne ce tour, Hugo !I win this round, Hugo!
- HugoC'est injuste, tu as de la chance.That's unfair, you are lucky.
- ManonNon, je suis juste très forte.No, I am just very good.
- HugoBon, on recommence une partie.Fine, let's play another game.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
