empieza
em-PYEH-sah
Quick Reference
📝 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!
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb
In many forms, the 'e' in the middle of 'empezar' changes to 'ie'. This happens when the stress falls on the stem, which is why 'nosotros' (empezamos) doesn't change.
Using 'A' before actions
When you want to say someone starts DOING something, you must put the word 'a' between the conjugated verb and the action: 'Empieza a estudiar' (He starts to study).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "La clase 'empEza' a las ocho."
Correction: La clase 'empIEza' a las ocho. Remember the 'ie' sound when the stress is on the start of the word.
⭐ Usage Tips
Two Uses of 'Empieza'
'Empieza' can mean 'He/She/It starts' (statement) or 'Start!' (an informal command to 'tú'). Context will tell you which one is being used.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: empieza
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'empieza' as an informal command (telling someone to start)?
📚 More Resources
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.