How to Say “Start” in Spanish — And When to Use It
If you’re learning Spanish or preparing for a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, one word you’ll want to get to grips with early on is “start.”
So let’s begin there:
The most common translation for “start” in Spanish is empezar.
It’s a verb that means “to start” or “to begin.” For example:
Vamos a empezar la clase. “We’re going to start the class.”
You might also see comenzar, which is a near synonym and used in much the same way. Depending on the country or region, one may be more common than the other – empezar is generally more widely used in everyday speech, while comenzar can sound slightly more formal or poetic.
Empezar vs Comenzar — What’s the difference?
Both verbs are regular (except empezar is a stem-changer in the present tense: empiezo, empiezas…) and mean essentially the same thing. In most contexts, they’re interchangeable:
- ¿A qué hora empieza la película? – What time does the movie start?
- La conferencia comenzará a las nueve. – The conference will start at nine.
You can think of it like the English difference between “start” and “commence” — same meaning, slightly different tone.
Other ways to say “Start” in Spanish
Depending on what you’re starting – an object, a machine, or an event – Spanish gives you a few other words too:
- Arrancar – to start a machine, engine or car
Arranca el coche. – Start the car. - Iniciar – to initiate something (formal, tech-related or procedural)
Inicia sesión aquí. – Start the session / Log in here. - Poner en marcha – to set something in motion (can be used figuratively)
Vamos a poner en marcha el proyecto. — Let’s get the project started.
Everyday situations where you’ll use “Start”
Whether you're planning a holiday in Spain, moving to Mexico, or just brushing up for a conversation class, here are a few real-life uses of "start":
- At school or work
¿Cuándo empieza la reunión? – When does the meeting start? - At the gym
Empecé una nueva rutina de ejercicios. – I started a new workout routine. - While travelling
El tour comienza a las 10 de la mañana. – The tour starts at 10 a.m. - With friends or family
Vamos a empezar la cena. – Let’s start dinner.
Bonus: How to say “I’m starting to…” in Spanish
If you want to express something like “I’m starting to learn Spanish” — easy! Use “empezar a infinitive”:
- Estoy empezando a aprender español. – I’m starting to learn Spanish.
- Empecé a trabajar aquí el año pasado. – I started working here last year.
Whether you’re starting a journey, a new habit, or a new chapter abroad, empezar is one of the most useful verbs you can add to your Spanish toolkit.
To recap:
- The main word for “start” is empezar
- Comenzar is also common, and slightly more formal
- You can also use arrancar (for cars), iniciar (for digital or formal processes), and poner en marcha (to get something going)
Keep learning, and start your Spanish the right way – with the right words.
Sending money? Do it with Paysend, and download the app for free.
Related posts:
Najnowsze posty
Sending money abroad should feel simple, but if your international transfer is delayed or not received, it’s natural to wonder what went wrong.
International money transfers can be delayed, held, or returned for several reasons, most commonly due to compliance checks, missing information, processing cut-off times, or intermediary bank reviews. Industry reporting suggests that while the majority of transfers complete successfully, a small but meaningful share requires manual handling or additional processing, which can cause delays.
It’s important to understand that international money transfers involve multiple institutions, compliance checks, and settlement systems. Because of this, delays or exceptions are not unusual and are typically linked to process or regulatory requirements rather than technical failures or user mistakes.
With that in mind, this guide explains why international transfers may not be received as expected, how often this happens and what you can realistically do next.
Following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June 2026, Paysend is waiving its transfer fee on money sent to Venezuela for two weeks, from 25 June to July 9 2026, so you can support family and friends without paying a fee. Exchange rates apply as normal, and you'll always see the full cost before you send.
