Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to start" in Spanish: empezar
empezar
To start in Spanish is empezar. Say yo empiezo and la clase empieza a las nueve. Empezamos means we start.
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La clase empieza en cinco minutos.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce empezar
Say it
em-peh-SAHR / em-PYEH-soh / em-PYEH-sah
/em.pe.ˈsaɾ/
em-peh-SAHR. Empiezo is em-PYEH-soh; empieza is em-PYEH-sah.
"to start" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| empezar | to start Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| yo empiezo | I start First person. | First person. |
| empieza | it/he/she starts Schedules and habits. | Schedules and habits. |
| empezamos | we start Group present. | Group present. |
| vamos a empezar | we’re going to start Near future. | Near future. |
How to use empezar in real life
- 1Class
La clase empieza en cinco minutos.
Class starts in five minutes.
Empieza.
- 2Workday
Yo empiezo temprano los lunes.
I start early on Mondays.
Yo empiezo.
- 3Movie
La película empezó sin nosotros.
The movie started without us.
Empezó.
Mistakes English speakers make with empezar
Incorrect: Yo empezar ahora.
Correct: Yo empiezo ahora.
Conjugate: yo empiezo.
Incorrect: Vamos a start el proyecto.
Correct: Vamos a empezar el proyecto.
Use empezar, not English start.
Good to know
Good to knowEmpezar is the everyday start verb for classes, movies, and jobs. Soft group prompts use ¿Empezamos? Comenzar is a close synonym.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Starting a study session
ChatPal
¿Empezamos con los verbos?
Shall we start with the verbs?
You
Empiezo con los verbos, sí.
I’ll start with the verbs, yes.
ChatPal
Entonces yo empiezo la lista en voz alta.
Then I’ll start the list out loud.
You
Dale. Yo anoto.
Go ahead. I’ll take notes.
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 Spanish
I start?
Yo empiezo.
Why empiezo, not empiezo with e?
Empezar changes e → ie: empiezo, empiezas, empieza.
It starts?
Empieza.
Let’s start?
¿Empezamos?
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