How to Say "starting" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “starting” is “empezando” — use this gerund form to describe an action that is currently in progress or has just begun..
empezando
em-peh-SAHN-doh/empeˈθando/
Examples
Estamos empezando a entender la gramática.
We are starting to understand the grammar.
Empezando por ti, todos deben participar.
Starting with you, everyone must participate.
¿Qué estás haciendo? — Estoy empezando la cena.
What are you doing? — I am starting dinner.
The Continuous Action
Use 'empezando' after a form of the verb 'estar' (to be) to show an action that is happening right now, like 'Estoy empezando' (I am starting).
The Stem Change
Remember that the base verb 'empezar' changes its vowel from 'e' to 'ie' in most present tense forms (e.g., 'yo empiezo'), but the gerund 'empezando' does not change its stem.
Mistaking the Base Verb
Mistake: “Using 'yo empezando' instead of 'yo estoy empezando'.”
Correction: The gerund 'empezando' cannot stand alone as the main verb; it must be paired with 'estar' or another helper verb to show an ongoing action.
comenzando
koh-men-SAHN-doh/komenˈsando/
Examples
Estamos comenzando el proyecto ahora mismo.
We are starting the project right now.
Ella estuvo comenzando a sentirse mejor después de la medicina.
She was beginning to feel better after the medicine.
Comenzando por el principio, ¿qué pasó anoche?
Starting from the beginning, what happened last night?
The Continuous Action
You use 'comenzando' with a form of the verb 'estar' (like 'estoy', 'estás', 'está') to show an action is happening right now or was happening in the past. Example: 'Estamos comenzando' (We are starting).
Adverbial Use
Sometimes 'comenzando' acts like an adverb, explaining how or when something happens, often at the start of a sentence. Example: 'Comenzando el lunes, haré ejercicio' (Starting on Monday, I will exercise).
Confusing Gerund and Infinitive
Mistake: “Quiero comenzando el libro.”
Correction: Quiero comenzar el libro. (I want to start the book). Remember that 'comenzando' is only used for continuous actions or as an adverb.
abriendo
/ah-bree-ehn-doh//aˈβɾjendo/
Examples
Estoy abriendo la ventana porque hace calor.
I am opening the window because it is hot.
Ella está abriendo su propia tienda de ropa.
She is opening (starting) her own clothing store.
Fuimos abriendo todas las cajas poco a poco.
We were opening all the boxes little by little.
The '-ing' Form
In Spanish, for verbs ending in -ir like 'abrir,' you replace the ending with '-iendo' to show an action is happening right now.
Using 'abriendo' alone
Mistake: “Yo abriendo la puerta.”
Correction: Say 'Estoy abriendo la puerta.' You usually need a word like 'estoy' (I am) before it to make a full sentence.
inicial
ee-nee-SYAL/i.niˈsjal/
Examples
La fase inicial del proyecto es la más importante.
The initial phase of the project is the most important.
Tuvimos un costo inicial de 50 euros para empezar el curso.
We had a starting cost of 50 euros to begin the course.
Su reacción inicial fue de sorpresa, pero luego se calmó.
His initial reaction was surprise, but then he calmed down.
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'inicial' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'la fase inicial', not 'la inicial fase'.
Gender Agreement
Mistake: “El problema iniciala.”
Correction: El problema inicial. Since 'inicial' ends in -al, it stays the same whether the noun is masculine (el problema) or feminine (la fase).
entrando
en-TRAN-doh/enˈtɾan.do/
Examples
Estamos entrando en una época de gran prosperidad económica.
We are entering a period of great economic prosperity.
El equipo lleva meses entrando en calor antes de la competencia.
The team has been warming up (literally: entering into heat) for months before the competition.
Ella está entrando al mundo de la política.
She is entering the world of politics.
Preposition 'En'
When 'entrando' is used figuratively to mean 'starting a phase,' it almost always requires the preposition 'en': 'entrando en una nueva etapa' (entering into a new stage).
iniciales
/ee-nee-syah-less//iniˈsjales/
Examples
Las fases iniciales del proyecto son las más difíciles.
The initial phases of the project are the most difficult.
Tuvimos algunos problemas iniciales, pero ahora todo va bien.
We had some starting problems, but now everything is going well.
Plural Matching
Since this describes a plural noun, 'inicial' adds '-es' to become 'iniciales'. It stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.
Singular vs Plural
Mistake: “La fases inicial.”
Correction: Las fases iniciales.
Gerunds vs. Adjectives
Related Translations
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