Commencer (en. To start)

/kɔ.me.sɛʁ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

To start or to begin.

We need to start the project immediately.

Il faut commencer le projet immédiatement.

To initiate an action.

We started working on the new plan.

Nous avons commencé à travailler sur le nouveau plan.

To launch an activity.

She started learning piano at the age of six.

Elle a commencé à apprendre le piano à l'âge de six ans.

From the Latin 'cominitiare', composed of 'com-' and 'initiare'.

start from scratch

Start without prior experience.

commencer à zéro

start off on the right foot

Start in a positive manner.

commencer du bon pied

initiate hostilities

Initiate a conflict or confrontation.

commencer les hostilités

beginning

The beginning of something.

début

start

The start of an action or process.

entame

initiation

The process of starting something.

initiation

Get to work.

Come on, we need to start, we don't have all the time!

Allez, faut commencer, on n'a pas tout le temps !

Kick off the business.

We're going to start the evening with a nice meal.

On va commencer la soirée avec un bon repas.