comenzó
“comenzó” means “he began” in Spanish (Simple past tense (Preterite)).
he began, she started, it began, you startedAlso: he commenced
📝 In Action
El concierto comenzó justo a tiempo.
A1The concert started right on time.
Ella comenzó a sentirse mejor después del descanso.
A2She began to feel better after the break.
Usted comenzó la tradición hace muchos años, ¿verdad?
B1You (formal) started the tradition many years ago, right?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "comenzó" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comenzó
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish pronoun requires the form 'comenzó'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'comenzar' evolved from the Vulgar Latin verb *cominitiāre*, which itself is based on the classical Latin *initiare*, meaning 'to begin.' It shares roots with the English word 'commence.'
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comenzó' irregular?
Yes and no. The base verb 'comenzar' is irregular because the 'e' changes to 'ie' in the present tense ('yo comienzo'). However, in the simple past tense form 'comenzó,' the irregularity (stem change) does not happen, making the form look regular.
What is the difference between 'comenzó' and 'empezó'?
They mean exactly the same thing ('started' or 'began'). 'Comenzar' is slightly more formal, but they are often used interchangeably in daily conversation.