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A simple storybook illustration showing three stylized figures standing shoulder-to-shoulder just behind a bright yellow starting line marked on a grassy field, indicating that they are about to begin an activity.

empezamos

em-peh-SAH-mos

Verb (Conjugated Form)A1irregular (stem-changing base verb) ar
we start?present action,we begin?present action
Also:we started?past action (Preterite),we began?past action (Preterite)

Quick Reference

infinitiveempezar
gerundempezando
past Participleempezado

📝 In Action

Si todos están listos, empezamos ahora mismo.

A1

If everyone is ready, we are starting right now.

Empezamos a estudiar español hace tres meses.

A2

We started studying Spanish three months ago.

Cada mañana, empezamos el día con un café.

A1

Every morning, we begin the day with a coffee.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comenzamos (we start/began)
  • iniciamos (we initiate/initiated)

Antonyms

  • terminamos (we finish/finished)
  • acabamos (we finish/finished)

Common Collocations

  • Empezamos con – We start with (something)
  • Empezamos a trabajar – We start working

💡 Grammar Points

Two Tenses, One Word

The form 'empezamos' is special because it means both 'we start' (Present Tense) and 'we started' (Past Simple Tense). You need context to know which one is correct!

The Stem Change Rule

The base verb 'empezar' is a stem-changer (E changes to IE), but 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all, informal) are exceptions and keep the original 'e' sound.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'empezamos' and 'empecemos'

Mistake: "Using 'Empezamos a estudiar' when suggesting 'Let's start studying.'"

Correction: For suggestions ('Let's...'), you must use the special form 'empecemos' (Subjunctive/Imperative), not 'empezamos'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Setting the Scene

To clarify if 'empezamos' means present or past, add a time word: 'Hoy empezamos' (Today we start) vs. 'Ayer empezamos' (Yesterday we started).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: empezamos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly suggests a group action, meaning 'Let's start!'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'empezamos' means 'we start' (present) or 'we started' (past)?

You must look at the time markers in the sentence. If the sentence uses words like 'ayer' (yesterday) or 'la semana pasada' (last week), it means 'we started.' If it uses 'hoy' (today) or 'siempre' (always), it means 'we start.'

Why does 'empezar' change spelling in other forms (like 'empiezo') but not in 'empezamos'?

The verb 'empezar' is a stem-changing verb (E changes to IE), but in Spanish, the 'we' (nosotros) form is almost always regular and does not undergo the stem change. It keeps the original 'e' sound.