comenzar
“comenzar” means “to start” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to start, to begin
Also: to set off
📝 In Action
Comienzo mi dieta el lunes.
A1I start my diet on Monday.
¿A qué hora comienza la película?
A1What time does the movie start?
Ellos comenzaron a estudiar después de la cena.
A2They began to study after dinner.
to commence, to initiate
Also: to hail from
📝 In Action
La construcción comenzará en el verano.
B1The construction will commence in the summer.
Su nueva etapa profesional comenzó con un cambio de ciudad.
B2His new professional phase started with a change of city.
El debate tiene que comenzar con un resumen de las reglas.
B2The debate must begin with a summary of the rules.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comenzar
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct sentence to express: 'I want them to start the meeting now.'
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Comenzar' comes from the Old Spanish word 'començar,' which itself derived from the Vulgar Latin *cominitiare*. This combined the prefix 'co-' (meaning 'together' or 'with') and 'initiare' (meaning 'to begin'). Essentially, it has meant 'to set something going' since the Middle Ages.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need to use 'a' after 'comenzar'?
You only need the 'a' if 'comenzar' is immediately followed by another verb (an action). For example, 'Comienzo a leer' (I start reading). If it is followed by a noun, like 'Comienzo el trabajo', you don't need 'a'.
Is 'comenzar' a regular verb?
'Comenzar' is slightly irregular. It changes the vowel 'e' to 'ie' in four out of six forms in the present tense (I, you, he/she/it, they). It also has a minor spelling change (z to c) in the 'yo' form of the simple past tense (preterite).