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.
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