comienza
/koh-mee-EHN-sah/
starts
When something comienza, it starts, like taking the first step on a new path.
comienza(Verb)
starts
?He/She/It/You formal starts
,begins
?He/She/It/You formal begins
start!
?Informal command (Tú)
,begin!
?Informal command (Tú)
📝 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!
💡 Grammar Points
Stem Change: E to IE
This verb is special! The 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms, like 'comienza,' but not in the 'we' (nosotros) or 'you all' (vosotros) forms.
Indicative vs. Imperative
'Comienza' can be two things: 'He/She/It starts' (stating a fact) or 'Start!' (giving an informal command to 'tú'). Context is key to telling them apart.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "La película comenza ahora."
Correction: La película comienza ahora. Remember to change that 'e' to 'ie' to make it sound natural.
Spelling in the Past (Yo form)
Mistake: "Yo comenzé mi dieta el lunes."
Correction: Yo comencé mi dieta el lunes. The 'z' must change to a 'c' before 'e' to keep the soft 's' sound.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'A'
To talk about starting an action, use the structure: 'Comienza a + infinitive (base verb).' Example: 'Comienza a llover' (It starts to rain).
To initiate, or set off a formal process, is another way to use comienza.
comienza(Verb)
initiates
?Sets off a formal process
,inaugurates
?Officially starts
undertakes
?Begins a large project
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Tone
While 'comenzar' is the general word for 'start,' using it often sounds slightly more formal or planned than its synonym 'empezar' when describing complex projects.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comienza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'comienza' as an informal command?
📚 More Resources
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.'