How do you pronounce begin?

The recorded pronunciation is /bɪˈɡɪn/.

Where does begin come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

begin

/bɪˈɡɪn/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.84 in modern English

Syllables: be-gin
IPA: /bɪˈɡɪn/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.

verb

To come into existence.

Intransitive verb

noun

Beginning; start.

Example Sentences

"I began playing the piano at the age of five."
"Now that everyone is here, we should begin the presentation."
"The program begins at 9 o’clock on the dot."
"I rushed to get to class on time, but the lesson had already begun."
"The Apoſtle begins our Knowledge in the Creatures, which lead us to the Knowledge of God, if we will make uſe of our Reaſon: [...]"
"Ye Nymphs of Solyma! begin the ſong: / To heav'nly themes ſublimer ſtrains belong."

Etymology

From Middle English beginnen, from Old English beginnan (“to begin”), from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, from Proto-Germanic *biginnaną (“to begin”), from be- + base verb *ginnaną also found in Old English onginnan.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: beginnen, beginnan, *biginnan, *biginnaną

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

begins (present, singular) beginning (participle, present) began (past) begun (participle, past) no-table-tags (table tags) glossary (inflection template) began (first person, past) beginnest (archaic, present) began (past, second person) beganst (archaic, past) begannest (archaic, past) beginneth (archaic, present)

Derived Forms

beginnable beginner beginning misbegun rebegin unbegun

Phrases

begin at the wrong end begin upon begin with the chucky to begin with

Synonyms

begin commence go inchoate initiate open issue get originate rock and roll start

Antonyms

end

Rhymes With

been within win win-win skin thin min spin berlin sin twin pin