empezó
“empezó” means “started” in Spanish (to initiate an action or event).
started, beganAlso: it broke out
📝 In Action
La película empezó hace cinco minutos.
A1The movie started five minutes ago.
Cuando ella gritó, el bebé empezó a llorar.
A2When she yelled, the baby started to cry.
Usted empezó el proyecto sin esperar la aprobación.
B1You (formal) started the project without waiting for approval.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: empezó
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences correctly uses 'empezó' to describe a single action completed in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'empezar' comes from a combination of the Latin prefix 'in-' (meaning 'in' or 'into') and the word *pediare*, related to 'foot.' Over time, the idea evolved from 'putting one's foot down' or 'impeding' into the modern sense of 'starting' or 'taking the first step.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'empezó' and 'comenzó'?
'Empezó' (from empezar) and 'comenzó' (from comenzar) mean exactly the same thing ('he/she started') and are completely interchangeable in most contexts. 'Empezar' is generally slightly more common in everyday conversation.
Why does 'empezó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary because 'empezó' is a past-tense verb form. The accent ensures that the stress falls on the final 'o,' which is standard for most regular -ar verbs in the third-person preterite.