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How to Say "begun" in Spanish

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empezado

em-peh-SAH-doh/empeˈθa.ðo/

Verb Form (Past Participle)A1Informal
Use 'empezado' when referring to the start of an action, task, or event, especially in everyday conversation and informal contexts.
A small, determined figure standing right at the start of a clearly marked, winding path leading into a colorful landscape, having just taken the first step.

Examples

Ella ya ha empezado la tarea.

She has already started the homework.

Habíamos empezado a llover cuando llegaste.

It had started raining when you arrived.

Una vez que la película hubo empezado, la sala se oscureció.

Once the movie had begun, the room went dark.

Forming Perfect Tenses

You must always use 'empezado' (the past participle) with a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions that have been completed, like 'he empezado' (I have started).

Invariable Form

When 'empezado' is used with 'haber' to form a tense, it is 'invariable'—it always stays 'empezado' and does not change based on the gender or number of the person doing the action.

Confusing 'Haber' and 'Tener'

Mistake: “Yo tengo empezado.”

Correction: Yo he empezado. (In Spanish, use 'haber' for compound verb tenses, not 'tener'.)

comenzado

co-men-ZAH-doh/ko.menˈsa.ðo/

Past ParticipleA1Formal
Use 'comenzado' when referring to the commencement of something, often in more formal settings or when emphasizing the beginning of a process or a formal event.
A colorful storybook illustration of a winding dirt path leading up a small green hill. A bright red flag is firmly planted at the exact beginning of the path, marking the starting point.

Examples

Ya hemos comenzado la clase de hoy.

We have already started today's class.

Ella había comenzado a leer el libro antes del viaje.

She had begun reading the book before the trip.

Si hubieras comenzado antes, terminarías a tiempo.

If you had started earlier, you would finish on time.

Forming Perfect Tenses

To use 'comenzado' to talk about completed actions, pair it with the verb 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, etc.). The participle 'comenzado' never changes its ending, regardless of who is doing the action.

The 'AR' Rule

Verbs that end in -AR (like 'comenzar') always form their past participle by changing -AR to -ADO. This is a very predictable pattern!

Using 'Estar' Instead of 'Haber'

Mistake: “Yo estoy comenzado el trabajo.”

Correction: Yo he comenzado el trabajo. (Remember: 'haber' is used for the action, 'estar' is used for location or temporary states.)

Choosing between 'empezado' and 'comenzado'

Learners often wonder if there's a strict rule. While both are correct, 'empezado' is more frequent in daily use. Reserve 'comenzado' for more formal situations or when you want to sound a bit more academic.

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