comienza
“comienza” means “starts” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
starts, begins
Also: start!, begin!
📝 In Action
El partido de fútbol comienza a las cinco de la tarde.
A1The soccer game starts at five in the afternoon.
Ella siempre comienza el día con un café fuerte.
A1She always starts the day with a strong coffee.
¡Comienza tu tarea antes de que sea demasiado tarde!
A2Start your homework before it's too late!
initiates, inaugurates
Also: undertakes📝 In Action
La junta directiva comienza las negociaciones de paz hoy.
B1The board of directors initiates the peace negotiations today.
Cuando se abre el telón, comienza la segunda parte de la obra.
B2When the curtain opens, the second part of the play commences.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "comienza" in Spanish:
begins→inaugurates→initiates→start!→starts→undertakes→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comienza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'comienza' as an informal command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish verb 'comenzar' evolved from the Vulgar Latin verb *cominitiāre*, a combination of *com-* (meaning 'together' or 'with') and *initiāre* (meaning 'to begin'). It shares a root with the French verb *commencer*.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'comienza' and 'empieza'?
Both mean 'starts' or 'begins.' They are synonyms and can usually be used interchangeably. 'Comenzar' is sometimes seen as slightly more formal than 'empezar,' but the key difference is that both have the same E→IE stem-change pattern, so they follow the same conjugation rules.
Why does 'comienza' have a 'z' in the base form but sometimes a 'c' when conjugated?
Spanish pronunciation rules require that a 'z' changes to a 'c' when it comes before an 'e' or 'i' to keep the soft 's' sound (or 'th' sound in Spain). You see this in the past tense 'yo comencé' or the subjunctive 'yo comience.'