What is the preterite of empezar in Spanish?

The preterite of empezar is: empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron. The yo form changes z to c (empecé, not empezé) because Spanish doesn't allow z before e. All other forms follow the standard regular -ar preterite pattern.

Why is the yo form empecé and not empezé?

Spanish spelling rules don't allow z before e or i in most native words. To comply, the yo preterite forces z to shift to c when it meets the -é ending. The pronunciation is the same (the c is soft, like the original z); the change is purely orthographic.

Does the present-tense stem change e-to-ie apply to the preterite?

No. The stem change only happens in the present tense (empiezo, empiezas, empieza). In the preterite, the stem stays empez- throughout (empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron). The yo form has only the z-to-c spelling change, nothing more.

What other verbs follow the same z-to-c spelling pattern?

All -zar verbs: comenzar (comencé), almorzar (almorcé), cruzar (crucé), abrazar (abracé), organizar (organicé), rezar (recé), gozar (gocé), avanzar (avancé). The yo preterite always changes z to c before -é.

How can I learn to use the preterite of empezar naturally?

Empezar comes up constantly when narrating starts: a new job, a new class, a movie, a workout, a relationship. Parrot's short-form videos surface these contexts in real life stories, so the z-to-c spelling rule and the no-stem-change rule become automatic through exposure.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Preterite of Empezar: All Forms with Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

The preterite of empezar is regular except for a z-to-c spelling change in the yo form (empecé). The other forms follow the standard -ar preterite pattern (empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron). Same rule applies to all -zar verbs: comenzar (comencé), almorzar (almorcé), cruzar (crucé).

Empecé el curso la semana pasada.

I started the course last week.

What it is

Empezar's preterite is regular except for one spelling rule: the yo form changes z to c before é (empecé, not empezé). Spanish orthography doesn't allow z before e or i in most words, so the z shifts to c to comply. All other forms follow standard -ar preterite endings: empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron.

In Empecé el curso la semana pasada (I started the course last week), empecé marks one specific completed beginning. The preterite frames the start as a finished event at a specific past moment.

How to spot it

The yo form empecé is the only one with the spelling change. The other five forms are straightforward regular -ar preterite (empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron). The present-tense stem change e-to-ie (empiezo, empiezas) doesn't apply in the preterite.

Empecé a estudiar a las ocho. — I started studying at eight.
Empezó la película tarde. — The movie started late.
Empezaron a discutir sin motivo. — They started arguing for no reason.

The z-to-c spelling rule applies to all -zar verbs: comenzar (comencé), almorzar (almorcé), cruzar (crucé), abrazar (abracé), organizar (organicé).

Preterite of Empezar Quick Reference

Preterite of empezar, all six forms

Person	Form	Translation
yo	empecé	I started
tú	empezaste	you started
él/ella/Ud.	empezó	he, she, you (formal) started
nosotros	empezamos	we started
vosotros	empezasteis	you all started (Spain)
ellos/Uds.	empezaron	they, you all started

Common Preterite of Empezar Examples in Spanish

Empezar means to begin or to start. The preterite captures each beginning as a specific past moment, often paired with a + infinitive to mark what was started.

Starting Activities or Studies

Empecé a estudiar español hace tres meses.: I started studying Spanish three months ago.
Empezaste un nuevo trabajo el lunes.: You started a new job on Monday.
Empezó la universidad en otoño.: She started university in the fall.
Empezamos un proyecto juntos.: We started a project together.
Empezaron a aprender inglés desde pequeños.: They started learning English from a young age.

Empezar a + infinitive is the standard pattern for marking the start of an action. The preterite frames the beginning as a definite past moment.

Starting Events / Performances

Empezó la película a las nueve.: The movie started at nine.
Empezó el concierto con energía.: The concert started with energy.
Empezaron la reunión sin esperar.: They started the meeting without waiting.
Empezó la clase con un repaso.: Class started with a review.
¿A qué hora empezó el partido?: What time did the game start?

Films, classes, games, meetings, all take the preterite of empezar when describing when they began. Pair with time markers (a las ocho, ayer) to anchor the moment.

Sudden Beginnings (Weather, Emotions)

Empezó a llover de repente.: It suddenly started raining.
Empecé a sentirme mal después de comer.: I started feeling bad after eating.
Empezó a reír sin parar.: He started laughing nonstop.
Empezaron a aplaudir al final.: They started applauding at the end.
Empezó a hacer frío en la noche.: It started getting cold at night.

Empezar a + infinitive often marks the onset of weather changes, emotions, or physical reactions. The preterite captures the exact moment the change began.

First-Time Experiences

Empecé a correr maratones a los treinta.: I started running marathons at thirty.
Empezó su carrera como modelo.: She started her career as a model.
Empezamos a viajar juntos hace cinco años.: We started traveling together five years ago.
Empezó a tocar el piano a los cuatro años.: He started playing piano at four.
Empezaron una nueva tradición familiar.: They started a new family tradition.

Marking when a new chapter of life began is a classic preterite use. Hace + time and a los X años are common companions.

How to Form the Preterite of Empezar

z → c in the Yo Form

Spanish spelling rules don't allow z before e or i in most native words. To comply, the yo preterite ending -é forces the z to shift to c: empecé, not empezé. The pronunciation is the same (soft c sounds like the original z); it's a purely orthographic rule.

empezar → yo → empecé (not empezé).

The change preserves Spanish spelling rules without affecting pronunciation.

Any -zar verb in the yo preterite: replace z with c, empecé, almorcé, crucé.

Other Forms Are Standard -ar

The remaining five forms follow standard -ar preterite endings: -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron. No spelling adjustments because the endings don't start with é or í.

tú empezaste, él empezó, nosotros empezamos, vosotros empezasteis, ellos empezaron.

Standard regular -ar preterite endings everywhere except yo.

Only the yo form is affected by the spelling rule.

No Stem Change in Preterite

Empezar has a stem change in the present tense: e becomes ie (empiezo, empiezas, empieza). That change does NOT happen in the preterite. The stem stays empez- throughout the preterite forms: empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron.

Present: empiezo, empiezas, empieza. Preterite: empecé, empezaste, empezó.

Stem-change only in present tense, not preterite.

Don't carry the e-to-ie change over to the preterite. It's strictly a present-tense feature.

Same Pattern: Comenzar, Almorzar, Cruzar

All -zar verbs follow the same yo-form spelling rule in the preterite. Comenzar → comencé. Almorzar → almorcé. Cruzar → crucé. Abrazar → abracé. Organizar → organicé. Same rule everywhere.

Comencé temprano. Almorcé en el parque. Crucé la calle.

I began early. I had lunch in the park. I crossed the street.

Any -zar verb in yo preterite: cé, never zé.

Common Mistakes with Preterite of Empezar

Incorrect: Yo empezé un nuevo trabajo el lunes. — I started a new job on Monday. (wrong, z must become c before é)

Correct: Yo empecé un nuevo trabajo el lunes. — I started a new job on Monday.

Spanish spelling rules don't allow z before e in most native words. The yo preterite of any -zar verb requires z to become c before é. Empezé is non-standard; empecé is correct.

Incorrect: Yo empiezé el libro anoche. — I started the book last night. (wrong, carrying present stem change to preterite)

Correct: Yo empecé el libro anoche. — I started the book last night.

Empezar's stem change e-to-ie only happens in the present tense (empiezo, empiezas, empieza). The preterite stem stays empez-, so the yo form is empecé, not empiezé.

Incorrect: Empezaba el curso la semana pasada. — I started the course last week. (wrong, imperfect for a specific start)

Correct: Empecé el curso la semana pasada. — I started the course last week.

A specific completed start with a clear time marker (la semana pasada) takes the preterite (empecé). The imperfect (empezaba) would describe ongoing or habitual starting, which doesn't fit a one-time beginning.

Preterite of Empezar FAQs

What is the preterite of empezar in Spanish?: The preterite of empezar is: empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron. The yo form changes z to c (empecé, not empezé) because Spanish doesn't allow z before e. All other forms follow the standard regular -ar preterite pattern.
Why is the yo form empecé and not empezé?: Spanish spelling rules don't allow z before e or i in most native words. To comply, the yo preterite forces z to shift to c when it meets the -é ending. The pronunciation is the same (the c is soft, like the original z); the change is purely orthographic.
Does the present-tense stem change e-to-ie apply to the preterite?: No. The stem change only happens in the present tense (empiezo, empiezas, empieza). In the preterite, the stem stays empez- throughout (empecé, empezaste, empezó, empezamos, empezasteis, empezaron). The yo form has only the z-to-c spelling change, nothing more.
What other verbs follow the same z-to-c spelling pattern?: All -zar verbs: comenzar (comencé), almorzar (almorcé), cruzar (crucé), abrazar (abracé), organizar (organicé), rezar (recé), gozar (gocé), avanzar (avancé). The yo preterite always changes z to c before -é.
How can I learn to use the preterite of empezar naturally?: Empezar comes up constantly when narrating starts: a new job, a new class, a movie, a workout, a relationship. Parrot's short-form videos surface these contexts in real life stories, so the z-to-c spelling rule and the no-stem-change rule become automatic through exposure.