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comenzado

co-men-ZAH-doh/ko.menˈsa.ðo/

“comenzado” means “started” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

started, begun

Also: commenced
Past ParticipleA1regular ar
A colorful storybook illustration of a winding dirt path leading up a small green hill. A bright red flag is firmly planted at the exact beginning of the path, marking the starting point.
infinitivecomenzar
gerundcomenzando
past Participlecomenzado

📝 In Action

Ya hemos comenzado la clase de hoy.

A1

We have already started today's class.

Ella había comenzado a leer el libro antes del viaje.

B1

She had begun reading the book before the trip.

Si hubieras comenzado antes, terminarías a tiempo.

B2

If you had started earlier, you would finish on time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • haber comenzado – to have started
  • dar por comenzado – to declare something started

started, underway

Also: commenced
A simple illustration of a wooden easel holding a large white canvas. Only a single, distinct brushstroke of bright blue paint is visible in the bottom left corner, showing the painting has just begun.

📝 In Action

El proyecto comenzado requiere mucha atención.

B1

The started project requires a lot of attention.

La reunión estaba comenzada cuando llegamos.

B1

The meeting was underway (started) when we arrived.

Las obras ya comenzadas no se pueden detener.

B2

The works already started cannot be stopped.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • en marcha (in progress)
  • iniciado (initiated)

Common Collocations

  • obra comenzada – work that has begun

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "comenzado" in Spanish:

begun→commenced→started→underway→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: comenzado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'comenzado' as part of a perfect tense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The verb 'comenzar' evolved from the Vulgar Latin *cominitiare*, which itself comes from the prefix *con-* (meaning 'together' or 'with') and *initiare* (meaning 'to begin' or 'to initiate'). So, it literally means 'to start something together' or 'to make a joint beginning.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: commencerItalian: cominciare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'comenzado' and 'empezado'?

They mean exactly the same thing ('started' or 'begun'). 'Comenzado' is often considered slightly more formal or preferred in certain regions, but you can use them interchangeably in most contexts.

Why does 'comenzado' not change its ending when used with 'haber'?

When 'comenzado' works with 'haber' (to form tenses like 'I have started'), it acts like a fixed, unchanging block of action. Only the verb 'haber' changes to tell you who did the action. It only changes its ending when it is used as a descriptive adjective.