empieza
“empieza” means “starts” in Spanish (He/She/It starts; You (formal) start.).
starts, beginAlso: commences
📝 In Action
La clase de español siempre empieza a las diez.
A1The Spanish class always starts at ten o'clock.
Mi hermana empieza la universidad este año.
A2My sister begins university this year.
¡Tú, empieza a leer en voz alta ahora mismo!
A1You, start reading out loud right now!
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: empieza
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'empieza' as an informal command (telling someone to start)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Vulgar Latin verb *impetiare*, which was formed from the Latin noun *pedica* (meaning 'a shackle' or 'foot-trap'), implying the first step taken or being put on a path. It evolved into the meaning of 'to begin'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'empieza' and 'comienza'?
'Empieza' (from empezar) and 'comienza' (from comenzar) mean exactly the same thing: 'starts' or 'begins.' They are interchangeable, though 'empezar' is often slightly more common in everyday speech.
Why does the word change from 'empezar' to 'empieza'?
'Empezar' is an irregular verb that changes the vowel 'e' to 'ie' when it is stressed, which happens in most of the present tense forms. This is called a 'boot verb' because only the forms outside of the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' fall inside the 'boot' shape on a conjugation chart.