beginnen
Translation
to begin, to start, to commence
Examples
Der Film hat bereits begonnen.
The film has already begun.
Sie hat begonnen, Deutsch zu lernen.
She has begun to learn German.
Wir haben mit der Arbeit begonnen.
We have begun with the work.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to begin sth. We are beginning the lesson.
((with sth.)) to begin with sth. We are beginning with the first exercise.
((to do sth.)) to begin to do sth. It is beginning to rain.
Similar Words
anfangen, starten; Antonyms: beenden, aufhören
Etymology
Cognate with the English word 'begin'. The 'be-' prefix often indicates the start of an action on an object.
Memory Tips
'Beginnen' is a direct cognate of 'begin', making it easy to remember. It's often slightly more formal than 'anfangen'.