Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| нача́ть | načátʹ | perfective, transitive |
| начина́ть | načinátʹ | imperfective |
| начина́ться | načinátʹsja | imperfective |
| нача́ться | načátʹsja | intransitive, perfective |
When you want to refer to the beginning of an activity as a noun, you can use нача́ло or старт.
Which one should you use?
The transitive forms начина́ть and нача́ть are used when someone starts something. To indicate that something is starting itself (such as a movie or a storm), use the reflexive intransitive forms начина́ться or нача́ться. Regarding nouns, нача́ло is the general word for a beginning, whereas старт is specifically used for the start of a race or a formal launch.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperfective form начина́ть is used for ongoing actions, repeated starts or when the focus is on the process of starting. The perfective form нача́ть is used for a single, completed action of starting something. The intransitive/reflexive versions, начина́ться and нача́ться, are used when the subject starts itself.
How do you pronounce it?
načátʹ
Did you know?
- If you use старт to describe the beginning of a new chapter in life or a new job, it will sound strangely mechanical, as if you are waiting for a starter pistol.
- The reflexive version of the verb, начина́ться, can convey that an event is happening spontaneously or automatically, such as a sudden chemical or emotional reaction.
- The word старт is a direct loanword from English, making it a 'false friend' in terms of nuance because it is much more restricted to athletics and technology than the English 'start'.
Examples in context
- Начать делоTo start a business
- Начать проектTo start a project
- Начать урокTo start a lesson
- Начинать игруTo start a game
- Начинать разговорTo start a conversation
- Начинать работуTo start work
- Поехали игратьLet's start playing
- Поехали учитьсяLet's start studying
- Я хочу нача́ть проект сегодня.Ya khochu nachat' proyekt segodnya.I want to start the project today.
- Он решил нача́ть ремонт в мае.On reshil nachat' remont v maye.He decided to start the renovation in May.
- Мы должны нача́ть собрание сейчас.My dolzhny nachat' sobraniye seychas.We must start the meeting now.
Example conversation
Anastasia and Andrey are discussing their work tasks.
- Анастасия AnastasiaАндрей, ты можешь нача́ть работу?Andrey, ty mozhesh' nachat' rabotu?Andrey, can you start the work?
- Андрей AndreyДа, я уже готов нача́ть.Da, ya uzhe gotov nachat'.Yes, I am already ready to start.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОтлично, тогда давай поскорее.Otlichno, togda davay poskoreye.Great, then let's do it quickly.
- Андрей AndreyЯ сейчас всё сделаю.Ya seychas vsyo sdelayu.I will do everything now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “start” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
