Translation of German word "beginnen" to English
beginnen
/bɛɡɪˈnɛn/
Meaning
VerbTo start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
How to use
The strong verb beginnen ('to begin / start') conjugates: beginnt, begann, hat begonnen. Note: the source translation is perfective 'to start' (начать), but in German, it refers to general starting (начинать). It is a more formal synonym of anfangen. It can be used transitively or intransitively.
🇬🇧 English
to begin
Example
Mit fünf Jahren begann ich Klavier zu spielen.
I started playing the piano at the age of five.
Da nun alle da sind, sollten wir mit der Präsentation beginnen.
Now that everyone is here, let's start the presentation.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- das Spiel beginnt— the game begins / starts
- mit dem Studium beginnen— to begin university studies (requires preposition 'mit' + dative)
- neu beginnen— to start anew / start over
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "beginnen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/beginnt ...
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #197 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "beginnen"?▼
The German word "beginnen" is defined as: "To start, to initiate or take the first step into something."
What does the German word "beginnen" mean?▼
The German word "beginnen" means "to begin" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "beginnen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "beginnen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "beginnen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Wir beginnen morgen um 9 Uhr." (which translates as "I started playing the piano at the age of five.").
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