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Translation of Spanish word "empezar" to English

empezar

/em.peˈθaɾ/

Meaning

Verb

To begin, commence, initiate. To set in motion.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

In formal and informal contexts, 'empezar' is used to indicate the beginning of an action, project, or event. For example, 'Empezaré a trabajar a las 9 de la mañana' (I will start working at 9 am). Be aware that 'empezar' can be used in the present perfect tense to describe an action that began in the past and continues up to the present, e.g., 'He empezado a estudiar español hace un año' (I have been studying Spanish for a year).

🇬🇧 English

to start, to begin

Example

Quiero empezar a estudiar español mañana.

I want to start studying Spanish tomorrow.

La película fue entretenida de principio a fin.

The movie was entertaining from start to finish.

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Synonyms

to initiatecomenzarto launchto triggerto activate

Common phrases

  • empezar a trabajar— to start working
  • empezar a estudiar— to start studying
  • empezar a viajar— to start traveling
  • empezar a leer— to start reading
  • empezar a escribir— to start writing

More Extended Verbs words

🦊 Conjugation of the verb "empezar"Full conjugation →

Present Tense (Presente)

yo (I)empiezo
tú (you)empiezas
él/ella (he/she)empieza
nosotros (we)empezamos
vosotros (you pl.)empiezáis
ellos/ellas (they)empiezan

Simple Past (Pretérito Indefinido)

yo (I)empecé
él/ella (he/she)empezó

Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)

he empezado

Imperative (Imperativo)

duempieza
ihrempieced
Sieempiece

Frequency rank: #78 in Spanish

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Spanish word "empezar" mean?▼

The Spanish word "empezar" means "to start, to begin" in English.

How do you pronounce the Spanish word "empezar"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "empezar" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "empezar"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "Quiero empezar a estudiar español mañana." (which translates as "I want to start studying Spanish tomorrow.").

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