Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Start in Spanish: Empezar
Empezar · verb · ehm-peh-SAHR
Start in Spanish is empezar, one of the most frequently used verbs in the language. Comenzar is a close synonym with a slightly more formal tone, and iniciar is reserved for technical or official contexts. All three share the meaning of beginning an action or process.
Empezar is pronounced ehm-peh-SAHR, with the stress on the last syllable. It is a stem-changing verb, where the e changes to ie in certain conjugations.
Vamos a empezar la reunión en cinco minutos.
We are going to start the meeting in five minutes.
Start in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for start, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| empezar | start | ehm-peh-SAHR | Default, widely understood |
| comenzar | start | slightly more formal, universal | |
| iniciar | start | formal or technical, to initiate |
How Native Speakers Use Empezar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Daily routine
Empiezo a trabajar a las ocho de la mañana.
I start working at eight in the morning.
Describing the beginning of a typical workday.
Class announcement
La clase comienza puntualmente a las nueve.
The class starts promptly at nine.
An instructor setting expectations for punctuality.
Technical context
Haz clic aquí para iniciar la descarga del programa.
Click here to start the program download.
Instructions on a software interface.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Empezar
Forgetting the stem change
Incorrect: Yo empezo a las siete.
Correct: Yo empiezo a las siete.
Empezar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie) in the present tense for all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Using empezar with the wrong preposition
Incorrect: Empecé estudiar español.
Correct: Empecé a estudiar español.
When empezar is followed by an infinitive, it requires the preposition a, as in empezar a + infinitive.
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See Empezar used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Start in Spanish
- How do you say start in Spanish?
- The most common translation is empezar (ehm-peh-SAHR), a versatile verb used in everyday and professional Spanish alike.
- What is the difference between empezar, comenzar, and iniciar?
- Empezar is the most casual and common, comenzar is slightly more formal but interchangeable in most cases, and iniciar is used in technical, official, or bureaucratic contexts.
- How do you conjugate empezar in the present tense?
- The present tense forms are empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, and empiezan, with the e changing to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.