empezar
“empezar” means “to start” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to start, to begin
Also: to commence
📝 In Action
La clase empieza a las nueve.
A1The class starts at nine.
¿A qué hora empieza la película?
A1What time does the movie start?
Empecé un nuevo trabajo la semana pasada.
A2I started a new job last week.
to start doing something
📝 In Action
El niño empezó a llorar.
A2The child started to cry.
Mañana empiezo a comer más sano.
A2Tomorrow I'm starting to eat healthier.
Empecemos por organizar la información.
B1Let's start by organizing the information.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: empezar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I am starting to understand'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from a casual form of Latin, *inceptiāre*, which itself is from the classical Latin word *incipere*. This original word meant 'to take in hand' or 'to begin a task'.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'empezar' and 'comenzar'?
In everyday conversation, there's practically no difference. You can use them interchangeably. 'Comenzar' can sometimes sound a little more formal or literary, but 'empezar' is always a safe and common choice.
Do I always need to put 'a' after 'empezar'?
No, only when what follows is another action (a verb). If you are starting a thing (a noun), you don't need 'a'. Compare: 'Empiezo la clase' (I'm starting the class) vs. 'Empiezo a estudiar' (I'm starting to study).