empiezan
em-pee-EH-san
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Los conciertos siempre empiezan muy tarde aquí.
A1The concerts always start very late here.
Ellas empiezan a estudiar para el examen hoy.
A2They are starting to study for the exam today.
Si ustedes no empiezan ahora, no terminaremos a tiempo.
B1If you all don't start now, we won't finish on time.
💡 Grammar Points
The Stem Change Rule
The verb empezar is irregular! The 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most forms of the present tense (like 'empiezan'). The only people who avoid this change are 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' (e.g., empezamos).
Starting an Action
To say that someone starts doing something, you must use the small word 'a' right after empiezan: 'Empiezan a correr' (They start to run).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Stem Change
Mistake: "Ellos *empezan* la tarea."
Correction: Ellos *empiezan* la tarea. Remember the 'e' needs to become 'ie' in the present tense for 'they/you all'.
Confusing Endings
Mistake: "Ustedes *empiezas*."
Correction: Ustedes *empiezan*. The 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' form always ends in -an for this type of verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Choose Empezar
Empezar and comenzar are interchangeable, meaning 'to start.' Choose empezar if you want to sound slightly more common in everyday conversation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: empiezan
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the E > IE stem change of *empezar* for the subject 'Los niños' (The children)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'empezar' have an 'ie' in the middle?
The 'ie' is part of a common Spanish irregularity called a 'stem change.' It happens in the present tense for many verbs where the vowel 'e' changes to 'ie' to keep a strong sound. Think of it as a natural phonetic shift that only applies to certain 'people' (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Is 'empiezan' the same as 'comienzan'?
Yes, for practical purposes, they mean exactly the same thing ('they start' or 'they begin'). Both verbs are also stem-changing (E > IE). You can use whichever one you prefer, though *empezar* is generally more common in everyday speech.