Begin

The Word “Begin”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “begin” is one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language. It is used to denote the start of an action, event, or process. Whether referring to something as simple as starting a conversation or as significant as beginning a new chapter in life, “begin” is a versatile term that conveys the idea of initiation. In this article, we will explore the meaning of “begin,” its various uses, and how it is translated into 30 different languages, with example sentences for each.

Meaning of “Begin” in Different Contexts

1. To Start or Commence Something (Verb)

The most common meaning of “begin” refers to the initiation of an action or event.

• Example: “We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.” (In this context, “begin” means to start the meeting at the scheduled time.)

2. To Start a Process or Activity (Verb)

“Begin” is often used to refer to starting a long-term or ongoing process.

• Example: “She decided to begin learning a new language.” (Here, “begin” refers to starting the ongoing activity of learning a new language.)

3. To Begin a Journey or Adventure (Verb)

In many contexts, “begin” is used to describe the start of a journey, either physical or metaphorical.

• Example: “They began their journey across the country in a car.” (In this example, “begin” refers to the commencement of a physical journey.)

4. To Start a Task or Duty (Verb)

“Begin” is also commonly used to refer to the start of a task, job, or responsibility.

• Example: “The teacher began the lesson by explaining the objectives.” (Here, “begin” refers to starting a specific task, in this case, a lesson.)

5. To Commence in a Personal or Emotional Context (Verb)

“Begin” can be used to describe the start of something more personal or emotional, such as a new relationship or personal journey.

• Example: “They decided to begin a new chapter in their lives after the move.” (Here, “begin” signifies the start of a new phase in life.)

Translations of the Word “Begin” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing how the word “begin” is translated into 30 different languages, along with example sentences for each language.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Begin	“We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Spanish	Empezar	“Comenzaremos la reunión a las 9 AM.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
French	Commencer	“Nous commencerons la réunion à 9h.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
German	Beginnen	“Wir beginnen das Meeting um 9 Uhr.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Italian	Iniziare	“Inizieremo la riunione alle 9.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Portuguese	Começar	“Vamos começar a reunião às 9h.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Russian	Начать (Nachat)	“Мы начнем встречу в 9 утра.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Chinese (Simplified)	开始 (Kāishǐ)	“我们将在上午9点开始会议。”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Japanese	始める (Hajimeru)	“私たちは午前9時に会議を始めます。”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Korean	시작하다 (Sijakada)	“우리는 오전 9시에 회의를 시작할 것입니다.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Hindi	शुरू करना (Shuru Karna)	“हम बैठक को सुबह 9 बजे शुरू करेंगे।”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Bengali	শুরু করা (Shuru Kora)	“আমরা সকাল ৯টায় বৈঠক শুরু করব।”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Urdu	شروع کرنا (Shuru Karna)	“ہم اجلاس صبح 9 بجے شروع کریں گے۔”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Turkish	Başlamak	“Toplantıyı saat 9’da başlatacağız.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Dutch	Beginnen	“We beginnen de vergadering om 9 uur.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Greek	Αρχίζω (Arhízo)	“Θα αρχίσουμε τη συνάντηση στις 9 π.μ.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Swedish	Börja	“Vi börjar mötet klockan 9.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Danish	Begynde	“Vi begynder mødet klokken 9.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Finnish	Aloittaa	“Aloitamme kokouksen klo 9.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Norwegian	Begynne	“Vi begynner møtet kl. 9.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Polish	Zaczynać	“Zaczniemy spotkanie o 9 rano.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Czech	Začít	“Začneme schůzku v 9 ráno.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Hungarian	Kezdeni	“9-kor kezdjük a megbeszélést.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Hebrew	להתחיל (Lehatkhil)	“נתחיל את הפגישה בשעה 9 בבוקר.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Thai	เริ่ม (Rœ̂m)	“เราจะเริ่มประชุมเวลา 9 โมงเช้า”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Vietnamese	Bắt đầu	“Chúng tôi sẽ bắt đầu cuộc họp vào lúc 9 giờ sáng.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Indonesian	Memulai	“Kami akan memulai rapat pada pukul 9 pagi.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Filipino	Magsimula	“Magsisimula kami ng pulong ng alas 9 ng umaga.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Malay	Mula	“Kami akan memulakan mesyuarat pada pukul 9 pagi.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Swahili	Anza	“Tutaanza mkutano saa 9 asubuhi.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)
Arabic	يبدأ (Yabda)	“سنبدأ الاجتماع في الساعة 9 صباحاً.”	(We will begin the meeting at 9 AM.)

Final Thoughts

The word “begin” is an essential verb in English, commonly used to describe the start of various actions, processes, tasks, or events. From starting a meeting to embarking on a new journey, “begin” is used in a wide variety of contexts, and understanding its different nuances can help in clear and effective communication.

Its translations across many languages reveal the universality of the concept of starting something, while also highlighting subtle differences in how the action of beginning is expressed in different cultures. Whether you’re starting a conversation, a business, or a new adventure, “begin” serves as the key verb to mark the initiation of any activity.