What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb empieza (begins) and the noun phrase la primavera (the spring).
Which one should you use?
Use El inicio de la primavera to mean 'the beginning of spring' in a formal context, or ¡La primavera está en marcha! to informally mean 'Spring is underway!'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Central America, the expression ¡Ya llegó la primavera! is used to mean 'Spring has already arrived!' In Spain, the expression ¡Ha empezado la primavera! is used to mean 'Spring has begun!'
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, it is common to place the verb before the subject in sentences describing seasonal or natural phenomena. If you need to speak about the past and say 'spring began', use the preterite form empezó la primavera instead of the present tense empieza la primavera.
How do you pronounce it?
/empjeθa la pɾimabeɾa/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, primavera is often used metaphorically to describe the prime of a person's life or the period of youth.
- The word primavera is derived from the Late Latin prīma vēra, combining the Latin words for 'first' and 'spring'.
- The noun primavera is a cognate with the Italian primavera and Romanian primăvară due to their shared Latin heritage.
Examples in context
- Hoy marca el inicio de la primavera según el calendarioToday marks the beginning of spring according to the calendar.
- Cuando empieza la primavera, todo cambia.When spring begins, everything changes.
- Parece que ya empieza la primavera.It seems that spring is beginning already.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about the weather near a window.
- Mateo¿Viste que ya empieza la primavera?Did you see that spring is beginning already?
- LucíaSí, hace mucho más calor hoy.Yes, it is much warmer today.
- MateoMe encanta cuando empieza la primavera.I love it when spring begins.
- LucíaA mí también me gusta mucho.I like it a lot too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, primavera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
