French · Everyday Verbs
"to start" in French: commencer
commencer
To start in French is commencer. Je commence means I start. On commence ? asks shall we start?
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How to pronounce commencer
Say it
ko-mahn-SAY
/kɔ.mɑ̃.se/
ko-mahn-SAY. Nasal man in the middle; ay ending.
"to start" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| commencer | to start / begin Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| je commence / tu commences | I start / you start Present. | Present. |
| commencé(e) | started Past participle. | Past participle. |
| commencer à | to start to / begin -ing Before an infinitive. | Before an infinitive. |
How to use commencer in real life
- 1Class
On commence dans cinq minutes.
We start in five minutes.
On commence for we.
- 2New habit
Je commence le yoga demain.
I'm starting yoga tomorrow.
Commencer + noun.
- 3Movie night
Tu commences le film sans moi ?
Are you starting the movie without me?
Tu commences.
Mistakes English speakers make with commencer
Incorrect: Je start le projet.
Correct: Je commence le projet.
Use commencer.
Incorrect: On commence de manger.
Correct: On commence à manger.
Commencer à + infinitive.
Good to know
Commencer à + infinitive is the productive pattern: commencer à lire. For "start a car," French often uses démarrer; commencer stays for beginning activities and events.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Starting a board game
ChatPal
On commence maintenant ?
Shall we start now?
You
Oui, je commence. À toi après.
Yes, I'll start. Your turn after.
ChatPal
Parfait. Tu as déjà commencé une partie ?
Perfect. Have you already started a game?
You
Non, c'est la première.
No, it's the first.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to start" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to start" in French
How do I say I start?
Je commence.
How do I say start to eat?
Commencer à manger.
How do I ask shall we start?
On commence ?
What is commencé?
Started (past participle).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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