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cominciare

to begin

verb koh-meen-CHAH-reh Common
Time Time Expressions

Origin: Likely from Latin cum + initiare (to initiate together)

Also means

to start

Usage Note

Cominciare is virtually interchangeable with iniziare in most contexts. It can be followed by an infinitive with a: cominciare a parlare (to begin to speak). It takes avere when it has an object (ho cominciato il lavoro) and essere in some intransitive constructions (è cominciata la pioggia). The 'ci' keeps the 'ch' sound across all conjugations.

Examples

"Il film comincia alle otto."

Natural Translation

The film starts at eight.

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