principios
/preen-SEE-pee-ohs/
beginning
When 'principios' means 'beginning', it refers to the start of something, like this tiny sprout starting its life.
principios(noun)
beginning
?start of a time period
,early days
?start of a process or era
start
?general reference to a start point
📝 In Action
Viajaremos a principios de agosto.
A2We will travel at the beginning of August.
A principios del siglo veinte, la tecnología era muy diferente.
B1At the start of the twentieth century, technology was very different.
Los principios de la enfermedad son difíciles de detectar.
C1The beginnings of the illness are hard to detect.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a principios de'
When talking about time, you almost always use the preposition 'a' before 'principios' to mean 'at the start of' (e.g., 'a principios de semana').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the singular form for time
Mistake: "Voy en principio de julio."
Correction: Voy a principios de julio. (Always use the plural 'principios' when referring to the start of a time period.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Temporal Range
'Principios' usually refers to the first third of a time period (the first 10 days of a month, or the first few years of a decade).
'Principios' also translates to 'principles', representing moral guidelines, like a lighthouse guiding a ship.
principios(noun)
principles
?moral or ethical rules
,values
?personal beliefs
fundamentals
?basic truths or laws (e.g., of science)
,ethics
?moral code
📝 In Action
Es un hombre de firmes principios.
B1He is a man of firm principles.
Su decisión va en contra de todos mis principios.
B2Their decision goes against all my values.
Debemos aprender los principios básicos de la programación.
B2We must learn the basic fundamentals of programming.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural for Ethics
When talking about a person’s moral code or values, 'principios' is almost always used in the plural form.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Singular and Plural Meanings
Mistake: "El principio de la física. (Using singular when referring to multiple fundamentals.)"
Correction: Los principios de la física. (Use plural when referring to the established rules of a system.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjectives
Common adjectives used with this meaning include 'firmes' (firm), 'sólidos' (solid), and 'morales' (moral).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: principios
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'principios' to refer to a moral code?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'principios' plural when I mean 'the beginning'?
When referring to the start of a time period (like a month or year), Spanish almost always uses the plural form 'principios.' Think of it as 'the early days' rather than 'the single beginning.' For a single, specific starting point (like the start of a sentence), you would use the singular 'el principio'.
Are the two main meanings related?
Yes! Both meanings come from the idea of something being 'foundational' or 'first.' Time principles refer to the first part of a period, and moral principles refer to the foundational rules you live by.