empezar
/empeˈθaɾ/
To begin in Spanish is empezar.
The verb empezar is used to express starting a process or starting to perform an action. When you want to say you are starting to do a specific action, use the structure empezar a followed by an infinitive verb.
Which one should you use?
While empezar and comenzar are often interchangeable, empezar is more common in everyday speech. In contrast, comenzar can sometimes feel slightly more formal or deliberate.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in Spain, comenzar is used instead of empezar to mean 'to begin'.
How does it change in a sentence?
empezar is an e-to-ie stem-changing verb in the present tense: empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan. The gerund, or present participle, is empezando.
How do you pronounce it?
/empeˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word empezar is built from the root word pieza, meaning 'piece'. It originally described the act of breaking off a piece of something to start consuming it.
- Spanish uses the phrase empezar de cero to describe starting over, which literally means 'to begin from zero' rather than using a metaphor like 'scratch'.
- In some Latin American countries, empezar is the absolute king of the street, whereas in certain parts of Spain, you might find comenzar used in much more casual, non-formal ways than textbooks suggest.
Examples in context
- Es hora de empezar.It's time to begin.This sentence shows how to use empezar to indicate it is time to start.Tatoeba #6591679 by arh, translation #2081283 by Eldad
- Ni sé por dónde empezar.I hardly know where to begin.This sentence uses empezar to express difficulty in knowing where to start.Tatoeba #3276659 by cueyayotl, translation #2334071 by CK
- ¿Cuándo te gustaría empezar?When would you like to begin?This sentence uses empezar to ask about a preferred starting time.Tatoeba #2094392 by Shishir, translation #2083159 by halfb1t
- Para comenzar la reunión, me gustaría hacer una presentación.To begin the meeting, I would like to give a presentation.
- Debemos iniciar el proyecto lo antes posible.We must begin the project as soon as possible.
- ¿Cuándo empieza la película?When does the movie begin?
- ¡Vamos! Arranquemos con la fiesta.Let's go! Let's begin the party.
- Quiero comenzar un nuevo proyecto.I want to begin a new project.
- Por medio de la presente carta, le informamos que daremos inicio al proyecto.By means of this letter, we inform you that we will give a start to the project.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are at a cafe planning their project.
- MaríaMateo, ¿podemos empezar el proyecto hoy?Mateo, can we start the project today?
- MateoSí, María, estoy listo para empezar.Yes, María, I am ready to start.
- María¡Qué bueno! Vamos a buscar los materiales.That's great! Let's go look for the materials.
- MateoPerfecto, empecemos de una vez.Perfect, let's start right away.
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.
