Which one should you use?
While soy principiante describes your status, estoy empezando (I am starting) describes the action of beginning a process.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use Soy principiante en español. to express a beginner level, or Estoy empezando con el español. to express a beginner level. Another phrase used in Spain to express a beginner level is Todavía no hablo bien el español, meaning I still don't speak Spanish well. In Mexico, Estoy aprendiendo español is a common way to say I am learning Spanish. In Argentina, Recién comienzo a aprender español is used to mean I have just started learning Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase does not require an indefinite article like 'un' before principiante when used to describe one's status or profession.
Did you know?
- The word principiante shares its root with the English word 'principal'. Both come from the Latin 'principium', meaning 'beginning' or 'first'.
- While principiante is the standard term, using the word novato to describe a beginner can sometimes imply that the person is clumsy or prone to rookie mistakes.
Examples in context
- Estoy en las primeras etapas de aprender el idioma.I am in the early stages of learning the language.
- Soy principiante en el piano.I am a beginner at the piano.
- Soy principiante en la guitarra.I am a beginner at the guitar.
- No sé mucho, soy principiante.I don't know much, I am a beginner.
- Soy principiante en este deporte.I am a beginner in this sport.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a cooking class.
- Daniel¿Sabes cocinar comida italiana?Do you know how to cook Italian food?
- ElenaNo, soy principiante en la cocina.No, I am a beginner in the kitchen.
- DanielNo te preocupes, yo también lo soy.Don't worry, I am too.
- ElenaQué bueno, aprenderemos juntos.That's good, we will learn together.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries principiante, soy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
