Which one should you use?
While empezar is common, it is often interchangeable with comenzar, which is suitable for general activities and events. In many dialects, empezar is slightly more frequent for general beginnings. If you are referring to starting vehicles, engines or devices, use arrancar. To express the idea of setting something in motion or starting up a process, you can use poner en marcha. Additionally, arrancar con is used to convey the idea of 'starting with' or 'beginning by'.
How does it change in a sentence?
empezar is an e-to-ie stem-changing verb in the present tense, meaning the first-person singular form is empiezo. When using empezar to mean starting an action, it is typically followed by the preposition a before an infinitive. In the third-person singular preterite (past tense), the z changes to a c before the ó to maintain pronunciation, resulting in empezó.
How do you pronounce it?
/empeˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific idiom empezar la casa por el tejado, which means 'to start the house by the roof', used when someone does things in the wrong order.
- The verb arrancar can mean 'to start' a car, but its primary literal meaning is 'to pull out' or 'to root up' a plant from the ground.
- The verb empezar actually contains the word pieza, which means 'piece'. This suggests the historical idea of starting something by breaking off a piece of a larger whole.
Examples in context
- Va a empezar mañana.He is going to start tomorrow.This sentence uses empezar to show a future intention.Tatoeba #1449542 by peibolvig, translation #304110 by CK
- Voy a empezar mañana.I'm going to start tomorrow.Tatoeba #3533983 by marcelostockle, translation #2543576 by CK
- Sé por dónde empezar.I know where to start.This sentence uses empezar to describe knowing a starting point.Tatoeba #3666749 by Seael, translation #2376456 by CK
- La reunión se iniciará a las 10 amThe meeting will start at 10 am
- La clase de hoy comenzará con una presentaciónToday's class will start with a presentation
- Empecemos la fiestaLet's start the party!
- ¿Me puedes ayudar a arrancar el coche?Can you help me start the car?
- Vamos a poner en marcha el proyectoLet's start the project.
- Me voy a arrancar con los preparativos de la cenaI'm going to get started with dinner preparations
- Vamos a iniciar un nuevo proyecto de investigaciónWe're going to start a new research project.
- La película va a comenzar en cinco minutosThe movie is going to start in five minutes.
- El juego de fútbol va a empezarThe soccer game is going to start.
- Es hora de arrancar el ordenadorIt's time to start the computer.
- Ha llegado el momento de poner en marcha nuestros planesThe time has come to start our plans
- Vamos a arrancar con una presentaciónWe're going to start with a presentation
- 155 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in a kitchen preparing to cook.
- MateoTenemos que empezar a cocinar ahora.We have to start cooking now.
- Elena¿Quieres empezar tú con la sopa?Do you want to start the soup?
- MateoSí, yo voy a empezar con eso.Yes, I will start with that.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo preparo el resto.Perfect, I will prepare the rest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry empezar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries empezar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
