Spanish grammar · Intermediate
Empezar Conjugation: Every Tense with Examples
Empezar means to start / to begin. Present takes e→ie stem change (empiezo, empiezas, empieza). Preterite has the spelling shift z→c in yo: empecé. Empezar a + infinitive = to start doing something.
Empiezo a las nueve.
I start at nine.
What it is
Empezar means to start or to begin. Present takes the e→ie stem change (empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan). Preterite has the orthographic shift z→c in yo: empecé (not empezé, Spanish doesn't allow ze).
In Empiezo a las nueve (I start at nine), empiezo is the yo present with e→ie change. Empezar a + infinitive = start doing something (Empiezo a leer = I'm starting to read).
How to spot it
Present has stem-change empiez-. Preterite yo is empecé (z→c before é). Other tenses regular -ar.
- Empezamos pronto. — We're starting soon.
- Empecé a estudiar. — I started to study.
- Empieza a llover. — It's starting to rain.
Empezar and comenzar are nearly perfect synonyms. Empezar is slightly more common in everyday speech; comenzar is more formal.
Empezar Conjugation Quick Reference
Empezar at a glance, the most-used forms across tenses
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future | Subjunctive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | empiezo | empecé | empezaba | empezaré | empiece |
| tú | empiezas | empezaste | empezabas | empezarás | empieces |
| él/ella/Ud. | empieza | empezó | empezaba | empezará | empiece |
| nosotros | empezamos | empezamos | empezábamos | empezaremos | empecemos |
| vosotros | empezáis | empezasteis | empezabais | empezaréis | empecéis |
| ellos/Uds. | empiezan | empezaron | empezaban | empezarán | empiecen |
Common Empezar Conjugation Examples in Spanish
Empezar covers starting actions, starting periods, and beginning events:
Starting an Action (Empezar A + Inf)
- Empecé a aprender español.
- I started learning Spanish.
- Empieza a llover.
- It's starting to rain.
- Empezamos a trabajar a las ocho.
- We start working at eight.
Empezar a + infinitive is the default construction for starting to do something.
Starting a Period / Event
- La clase empieza a las nueve.
- Class starts at nine.
- El partido empezó tarde.
- The game started late.
- Empezamos el proyecto en marzo.
- We started the project in March.
Used directly (without a + inf) when the object is the period / event itself.
Starting With (Empezar Por / Con)
- Empezamos por el principio.
- Let's start at the beginning.
- Empieza por estudiar.
- Start by studying.
- Empezó con una broma.
- She started with a joke.
Empezar por + infinitive = start by doing something. Empezar con = start with something.
Past Tenses, Story Beginnings
- Cuando empezó la guerra...
- When the war began...
- Antes empezaba a trabajar más temprano.
- I used to start work earlier.
- Ha empezado el invierno.
- Winter has begun.
Preterite for the specific start moment. Imperfect for habits or background descriptions of beginnings.
How to Conjugate Empezar Across Tenses
Present, E→Ie Stem Change
Yo / tú / él / ellos: empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empiezan. Nosotros / vosotros: empezamos, empezáis (no change).
Yo empiezo, tú empiezas, él empieza, nosotros empezamos, vosotros empezáis, ellos empiezan.
I start, you start, he starts, we start, you all start, they start.
Same e→ie pattern as pensar, querer, entender, preferir.
Preterite, Yo Empecé (Z→C Shift)
Yo preterite is empecé. The z changes to c before é because Spanish doesn't allow ze. Other forms regular: empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron.
Empecé a estudiar ayer.
I started studying yesterday.
Same spelling shift as alcanzar → alcancé, cruzar → crucé, gozar → gocé. Z always becomes c before e or i.
Imperfect / Future, Regular
Imperfect: empezaba, empezabas, empezaba, empezábamos, empezabais, empezaban. Future: empezaré, empezarás, empezará. Both regular.
Antes empezaba a las siete. Empezaremos pronto.
Before, I started at seven. We'll start soon.
Imperfect and future have no spelling shifts, only present and preterite-yo are affected.
Subjunctive, E→Ie + Z→C
Present subjunctive keeps both irregularities: empiece, empieces, empiece, empecemos, empecéis, empiecen. Stem change in stressed forms, z→c throughout.
Quiero que empieces ahora.
I want you to start now.
Nosotros / vosotros lose the stem change but keep the z→c shift: empecemos, empecéis.
Common Mistakes with Empezar Conjugation
Incorrect: Yo empezo ahora. — I'm starting now. (wrong, takes e→ie)
Correct: Yo empiezo ahora. — I'm starting now.
Empezar takes e→ie in the yo / tú / él / ellos present forms. Empiezo, not empezo.
Incorrect: Yo empezé ayer. — I started yesterday. (wrong, z→c before é)
Correct: Yo empecé ayer. — I started yesterday.
Spanish doesn't allow ze, z always shifts to c before e (or i). Empezar → empecé.
Incorrect: Empiezo estudiar. — I'm starting to study. (wrong, needs a before infinitive)
Correct: Empiezo a estudiar. — I'm starting to study.
Empezar requires the preposition a before an infinitive. Empezar a + inf, never just empezar + inf.
Empezar Across Every Tense
Two irregular spots: present e→ie stem change, preterite yo z→c spelling shift. Everything else regular.
Present (E→Ie)
Stem changes in yo / tú / él / ellos.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
Same e→ie family as pienso, quiero, entiendo, prefiero, comienzo.
Preterite (Yo Empecé)
Only yo shows the spelling shift z→c.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
Same shift family as alcancé, crucé, gocé.
Imperfect (Regular)
Regular -ar imperfect.
| yo |
| tú |
| él/ella/usted |
| nosotros |
| vosotros |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes |
Cada día empezaba el día con café = Every day I used to start the day with coffee.
Future, Conditional, Subjunctive
Future / conditional regular. Subjunctive keeps stem change and z→c.
| yo (future) |
| yo (conditional) |
| yo (present subjunctive) |
| yo (present perfect) |
Past participle empezado is regular.
Empezar Conjugation FAQs
- What does empezar mean and when do you use it in Spanish?
- Empezar means to start / to begin. Used for starting actions (Empezar a + inf), starting events / periods (La clase empieza a las nueve), and starting with / by (Empieza por el principio = Start at the beginning).
- How does empezar conjugate in the present tense?
- Empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan. Takes e→ie stem change in yo / tú / él / ellos. Nosotros / vosotros keep the e.
- What's the preterite of empezar?
- Empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron. The yo form shifts z→c (empecé, not empezé) because Spanish doesn't allow ze. Other forms are regular.
- What's the difference between empezar and comenzar?
- Nearly perfect synonyms. Empezar is slightly more common in everyday speech; comenzar is a bit more formal but still common. Both conjugate the same way (e→ie + spelling shift in preterite yo: empecé / comencé).
- How can I get better at conjugating empezar?
- Empezar shows up constantly, starting class, starting activities, starting days. Exposure to empiezo / empiezas / empecé in real contexts is the fastest path. Parrot's daily videos feature these forms.