"Tener ganas de"

Question

"Tener ganas de"

Would be an idiomatic expression ?

Being that: Ganar- to win or earn, but the expression meaning "to feel for".

Probably a stupid question.

Thank you !

Answer 1

Being that: Ganar- to win or earn, but the expression meaning "to feel for".

"Gana" is not directly related to the verb "ganar". This is a word that has no counterpart in English, but interestingly, it does in other Germanic languages (e.g. Lust haben zu + inf = tener ganas de). The word is related to the old Norwegian word "gana" (to look at something with desire). It means wish or feeling to do something.

That's very helpful. Thank you. - babs_irish, May 2, 2011

Thank you, you answered my question perfectly. I thought it was related and an idiomatic expression. - Politically_Correct1, May 2, 2011

Answer 2

It is rather like "I am in the mood for..." or "I feel like..."

Tengo ganas de bailar. I feel like dancing.

Tengo ganas de andar en bici. I am in the mood for biking.

Tengo ganas de una cerveza bien fría. I would like to drink a cold beer.

Answer 3

The way this was explained to me was 'I have desires to' (tengo ganas de....) ie.....a bit more 'touchy/feely' than simply 'I would like to'.

No doubt a Spanish speaking native will be able to explain better though.

You explained it well Billy :) I would say stronger than rather than touchy feely but you gave an accuarte translation for the expression/idiom :) - FELIZ77, May 2, 2011

thank you Feliz - billygoat, May 2, 2011

Answer 4

It's not a stupid question at all.The second answer explains similar ways to use the expression tengo ganas de.