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empiezas

em-pyeh-zas/emˈpje.θas/

“empiezas” means “you start” in Spanish (informal, singular).

you start, you begin

Also: you're starting
VerbA1irregular (stem-changing E→IE) ar
A close-up illustration showing a single sneaker stepping across a bright white starting line onto a dusty, winding path, symbolizing the beginning of a journey or action.
infinitiveempezar
gerundempezando
past Participleempezado

📝 In Action

¿Cuándo empiezas tu nuevo trabajo?

A1

When do you start your new job?

Si empiezas a estudiar ahora, terminarás pronto.

A2

If you start studying now, you will finish soon.

Cada vez que empiezas un proyecto, lo terminas.

A2

Every time you start a project, you finish it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comienzas (you start (from the verb 'comenzar'))
  • inicias (you initiate)

Antonyms

  • terminas (you finish)
  • acabas (you finish/end)

Common Collocations

  • empiezas a leer – you start reading
  • empiezas mañana – you start tomorrow

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedempieza
yoempiezo
túempiezas
ellos/ellas/ustedesempiezan
nosotrosempezamos
vosotrosempezáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedempezaba
yoempezaba
túempezabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesempezaban
nosotrosempezábamos
vosotrosempezabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedempezó
yoempecé
túempezaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesempezaron
nosotrosempezamos
vosotrosempezasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedempiece
yoempiece
túempieces
ellos/ellas/ustedesempiecen
nosotrosempecemos
vosotrosempecéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedempezara
yoempezara
túempezaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesempezaran
nosotrosempezáramos
vosotrosempezarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "empiezas" in Spanish:

you begin→you start→you're starting→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: empiezas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'empiezas'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
empezar(to begin / to start) — Verb
el principio(the beginning) — Noun
el comienzo(the start) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
piezastropiezas
📚 Etymology▼

The verb 'empezar' comes from the older Spanish word 'pezar,' meaning 'to weigh' or 'to balance,' combined with the prefix 'en-' (in/into). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'putting something on the scale' to 'starting an action.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: empesarFrench (related root): pièce

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'empezas' wrong?

'Empezar' is a 'boot verb,' meaning the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms. You must remember the 'ie' sound: *empiezas*.

What is the difference between 'empezar' and 'comenzar'?

They mean the exact same thing ('to start' or 'to begin') and are interchangeable in most situations. 'Empezar' is slightly more common in everyday speech.