empieza aquí
/empjeθa aki/from spelling rules
empieza aquí is the Spanish way to say "start here".
You may also encounter aquí puedes empezar, which translates to "here you can start" and is used in more relaxed contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
empieza is the second-person singular imperative (a command) or the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb empezar (to start), and aquí means "here".
Which one should you use?
empieza aquí uses the verb empezar, but a common synonym is comienza aquí, which uses the verb comenzar.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
empieza aquí is an informal way to say "start here". For more formal or polite situations, you can use comience aquí, inicie aquí or empiece por aquí (which means "begin here").
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing a group of people or using the formal ustedes form, use empiecen aquí instead of empieza aquí.
Did you know?
- The word aquí is a linguistic hybrid formed from the Vulgar Latin phrase eccum hīc, which combined the word for 'this' with the word for 'here'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, using the informal empieza aquí with a stranger or a superior can be perceived as an aggressive command rather than a helpful suggestion.
- While empezar is perfectly fine for daily use, many writers switch to comenzar when they want to describe the beginning of something grand, such as an epic journey or a long historical era.
Examples in context
- Empieza aquí.Start here.This sentence shows how to use empieza aquí to give a direct instruction.Tatoeba #4557375 by swyter, translation #2111524 by CK
- Comience aquí para ver la exposición principal.Start here to see the main exhibition.
- Empiece por aquí para registrarse como nuevo empleado.Begin here to register as a new employee.
- Empieza aquí a leer el libro, te encantará.Start here to read the book, you'll love it.
- Si quieres aprender, empieza aquí.If you want to learn, start here.
- La fila para el examen empieza aquí.The line for the exam starts here.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are at a community workshop.
- JavierLucía, para el curso, empieza aquí.Lucía, for the course, start here.
- Lucía¿En este formulario, Javier?In this form, Javier?
- JavierSí, rellena esto primero.Yes, fill this out first.
- LucíaMuy bien, muchas gracias.Very well, thank you very much.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aquí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
