comenzaron
“comenzaron” means “they started” in Spanish (past action completed by a group).
they started, they began
Also: you started (plural, formal)
📝 In Action
Los estudiantes comenzaron a escribir su ensayo hace una hora.
A2The students started writing their essay an hour ago.
Ellos no sabían dónde comenzar, pero al final comenzaron el proyecto.
B1They didn't know where to start, but in the end they began the project.
Las campanas comenzaron a sonar justo a medianoche.
A1The bells began to ring right at midnight.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comenzaron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'comenzaron'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'comenzar' comes from the Vulgar Latin *cominitiare*, a variation of the classical Latin *initiare* (to begin). The prefix 'co-' emphasizes the start of the action.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'comenzaron' and 'empezaron'?
They are perfect synonyms, both meaning 'they started' or 'they began'. You can use them interchangeably in almost all contexts. 'Comenzar' might sound slightly more formal in some regions, but the difference is minimal.
How do I know if I should use 'comenzaron' or 'comenzaban'?
'Comenzaron' (Preterite) is for actions that had a clear beginning and end in the past: 'They started the concert at 8 PM.' 'Comenzaban' (Imperfect) is for repeated or ongoing actions without a clear end: 'They used to start work very early.'