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Video Dictionary for Language Learners

The meaning of the French word "commencer" and how you use it

1
commencer
(v.) (Infinitive) to start; to begin
Charlotte

Charlotte

Content Editor
Charlotte is a FR-EN translator and live subtitler based in the U.K. She holds a BA in French and Japanese and an MA in audiovisual translation. She has worked as an English tutor in the past and considers herself a life-long language student.
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Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
Tu peux commencer maintenant .
You can start now.
On va bientôt commencer .
We are going to start soon.
Quiz Yourself on " commencer"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
The Modern Bistro
Et on va mettre ça tout simplement pour commencer à réduire sur le feu .
And we're going to simply put that to start reducing on the heat.
Carpooling to Marseille!
Pour tout le monde les vacances peuvent enfin commencer .
For everyone vacation can finally begin.
The NEW GoldenMoustache.com
et quel meilleur endroit pour commencer la visite que la salle des auteurs .
and what better place to start the visit than the writers' room.
Quiz Yourself on " commencer"
2
commencer...à
(v.) (Infinitive) to start to commencer...à + infinitive
Charlotte

Charlotte

Content Editor
Charlotte is a FR-EN translator and live subtitler based in the U.K. She holds a BA in French and Japanese and an MA in audiovisual translation. She has worked as an English tutor in the past and considers herself a life-long language student.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
Il peut commencer à marcher .
He can start to walk.
Je veux commencer à jouer du piano .
I want to start playing piano.
Quiz Yourself on " commencer... à"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
TEDx: Giving the Data back to the Consumers - Part 2 of 2
de commencer à travailler sur la rétrocession des données personnelles
to begin working on returning personal data
7 Money-Saving Tips - Part 2 of 2
Je peux que te conseiller de commencer à investir maintenant
I can only advise you to starting investing now
Inside the Grand Palais
L' artiste Franck Scurti va pendant des mois ici commencer à créer .
The artist Franck Scurti is, for months, going to start creating here.
Quiz Yourself on " commencer... à"
3
va...commencer
(v.) (Futur proche) (il/elle / on) is/are going to start

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
Il va commencer à parler .
He is going to start talking.
On va commencer la leçon .
We are going to start the lesson.
Quiz Yourself on " va... commencer"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
Recipe for Madeleines with a Lemon Zest
Eh ben , on y va . Allez , on va commencer l' appareil à madeleine
Ah well, let's go. Right, we're going to begin the madeleine mixture
Réunion: A Fascinating French Island
Ah ! Eh ben , pour éviter de se perdre , on va commencer par faire un peu de géographie .
Ah! Oh well, to avoid getting ourselves lost, we're going to start with a bit of geography.
How to Make a Kings' Cake
On va commencer par préparer , euh , la garniture .
We're going to start by preparing, er, the filling.
Quiz Yourself on " va... commencer"
4
commencer...par
(v.) (Infinitive) to start by (V)
Charlotte

Charlotte

Content Editor
Charlotte is a FR-EN translator and live subtitler based in the U.K. She holds a BA in French and Japanese and an MA in audiovisual translation. She has worked as an English tutor in the past and considers herself a life-long language student.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
L' équipe va commencer par créer une marque .
The team is going to start by creating a brand.
On pourrait commencer par dire la vérité !
We could start by telling the truth !
Quiz Yourself on " commencer... par"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
Louis XIV: A 72-Year Reign
Et on va commencer par mettre une date de début et une date de fin .
And we're going to start by putting in a start date and an end date.
Heat-Free Waves - Hair Tutorial
On va commencer par humidifier les cheveux .
We're going to start by wetting the hair.
Bring Old Furniture Back to Life
Commencer par poncer largement la surface du plateau de votre table
Start by largely sanding the surface of your tabletop
Quiz Yourself on " commencer... par"
5
vais...commencer
(v.) (Futur proche) (je) am going to start; am going to begin

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
Je vais commencer à travailler .
I am going to start working.
Je vais commencer le film .
I am going to begin the film.
Quiz Yourself on " vais... commencer"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
History Told by Socks: The Trojan Thingy-Ma-Jig - Part 2 of 2
Dépêchez - vous , sinon je vais commencer à mettre des petits coups de glaive
Hurry up, otherwise I'm going to start tapping you with my sword
Combining Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns: Le/La/Les + Lui/Leur
Donc , je vais commencer avec le pronom objet direct numéro un , « le » ,
So, I'm going to start with the first direct object pronoun, "le,"
It's Not Witchcraft!: All About Dairy - Part 6 of 6
Alors , par quoi je vais commencer ? On ne sait que choisir .
So, what am I going to start with? One can't know what to choose?
Quiz Yourself on " vais... commencer"

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