Eu ganho dinheiro no trabalho.

I earn money at work.

Breakdown of Eu ganho dinheiro no trabalho.

• eu: I
• o trabalho: the work
• no: in the
• o dinheiro: the money
• ganhar: to earn

Questions & Answers about Eu ganho dinheiro no trabalho.

What does ganho mean in this sentence?

ganho is the first-person singular present indicative of ganhar, which here means to earn. So Eu ganho literally translates to I earn.

Why don’t we use recebo instead of ganho?

While receber means to receive, focusing on getting something given to you (like a salary payment), ganhar emphasizes earning something through effort or work. Saying Eu recebo meu salário is possible, but it doesn’t convey the same nuance as Eu ganho dinheiro (“I earn money”).

Why is there no article before dinheiro? Shouldn’t it be o dinheiro?

In Portuguese, dinheiro is usually an uncountable noun when speaking about money in general. You omit the article: ganho dinheiro = “I earn money.” Use o dinheiro only when you refer to a specific sum of money (e.g., o dinheiro que você me deu).

What is no in no trabalho? Why not just em o trabalho?

no is the contraction of em + o. Portuguese frequently merges prepositions and definite articles:

• em + o → no
• em + a → na
  So no trabalho = in the work/job.

Could I say No trabalho eu ganho dinheiro instead?

Yes. Portuguese word order is flexible. Placing no trabalho first shifts slight emphasis onto where you earn money. Both sentences are correct and natural.

Why use trabalho instead of emprego here?

trabalho means work or job in a general sense (your activity or place of work). emprego refers more specifically to an employment position (a contract or role). So no trabalho is like saying “at work,” whereas no emprego would be “in the job/position.”

Can dinheiro ever be plural (dinheiros)?

Rarely. Dinheiro is typically singular as a mass noun. You’ll almost never say dinheiros in everyday speech unless you’re making a very specialized distinction (e.g., types of currencies, which is uncommon).