Comenzaban (en. Began)

/komenˈθaβan/ (en español de España)

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

To initiate or start something in the past.

When they were children, they began to play in the park every afternoon.

Cuando eran niños, comenzaban a jugar en el parque cada tarde.

To describe a fact that was happening habitually in the past.

Before, the neighbors began to gather on Sundays.

Antes, los vecinos comenzaban a reunirse los domingos.

To indicate the beginning of a continuous action in the past.

They began their vacation every year in June.

Ellos comenzaban sus vacaciones cada año en junio.

From Latin 'cominitiare', which means to initiate.

classes were starting

Refers to the beginning of lessons at school.

comenzaban las clases

it was starting to rain

Means that it was starting to rain.

comenzaban a llover

they were starting to work

Indicates the moment when someone starts a work activity.

comenzaban a trabajar

begin

To start something.

comenzar

start

The beginning of something.

inicio

start

Synonym of begin.

empezar

kick-off

The start of a process or activity.

arranque

To informally or casually start something.

Come on, we’re starting that party wherever you want.

Vamos, comenzamos esa fiesta en donde quieras.

When someone starts doing something at the last minute.

She always started studying the night before the exams.

Ella siempre comenzaba a estudiar la noche anterior a los exámenes.