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A1 noun #900 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

início

Top 900

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces início en 30 secondes

Explication início in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'início' is one of the first nouns you learn to describe time. You use it to talk about the start of your day, the start of a class, or the start of a movie. It is almost always paired with 'no' (in the) to say 'no início' (at the beginning). At this stage, you should focus on the basic 'The beginning of X' structure: 'O início de [noun]'. It is a vital word for basic storytelling and scheduling. You will also see it on every website you visit in Portuguese as the 'Home' button. Understanding this word helps you navigate both physical schedules and digital interfaces. You should practice the pronunciation carefully, as the accent on the 'í' is key to being understood.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'início' in more varied sentence structures, including compound sentences. You will learn the phrase 'desde o início' (from the beginning) to describe duration or persistence. You also start to distinguish between 'início' and 'começo', using 'início' for slightly more formal or official contexts, like 'o início do contrato' or 'o início das aulas'. You should be comfortable using it with different prepositions like 'até o início' (until the start) or 'após o início' (after the start). This level also involves recognizing the word in common signs and public announcements, such as 'Início de área urbana' (Start of urban area) on road signs.

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By B1, you are expected to use 'início' in professional and social contexts with ease. You should be familiar with the verbal expression 'dar início a' (to initiate/start something), which is common in work environments. You will use 'início' to discuss more abstract concepts, like 'o início de uma crise' or 'o início de uma nova era'. Your understanding of the word expands to include its role in idiomatic expressions like 'início de conversa' (for starters). At this level, you also start to notice the word in literature and news reports, where it is used to structure narratives and report on the commencement of significant events or legal proceedings.

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At the B2 level, you use 'início' to discuss complex timelines and historical contexts. You can differentiate between 'início', 'princípio', and 'gênese' based on the nuance of the topic. You might use 'início' to analyze the 'início das hostilidades' in a history essay or the 'início de um processo judicial' in a legal context. You are comfortable with the word's placement in complex sentences involving relative pronouns, such as 'O momento em que o início foi decretado...'. You also understand the stylistic choice of using 'início' to provide a more formal tone to your writing compared to the more colloquial 'começo'.

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At the C1 level, 'início' is used with high precision in academic and professional discourse. You understand its nuances in philosophical debates—for instance, the difference between the 'início' of a physical event and the 'princípio' of a logical argument. you can use the word in sophisticated rhetorical structures, such as 'Desde o seu ínfimo início...' (From its tiny beginning...). You are also aware of the word's etymological roots and how it relates to other words in the 'iniciar' family, using them to create cohesive and varied texts. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, employing 'início' in subtle ways to indicate phase, origin, or priority.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'início' includes an appreciation for its use in high literature and poetry. You can discuss the 'início' of the universe or the 'início' of human consciousness using the word as a focal point for deep analysis. You understand how the word functions in archaic or highly specialized legal texts. You can play with the word in creative writing, perhaps using it ironically or in complex metaphors. Your command of the word includes all its collocations, even the most obscure ones, and you can seamlessly switch between 'início' and its many synonyms to achieve specific rhythmic or tonal effects in your speech and writing.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

início en 30 secondes

Início is a masculine noun meaning 'beginning' or 'start'.
It is more formal than 'começo' and used in professional settings.
Commonly used in the phrase 'no início' (at the beginning).
Always has an accent on the 'í' (i-NÍ-cio).

The Portuguese word início is a masculine noun that serves as the cornerstone for discussing the genesis, commencement, or the very first part of any event, period, or physical object. While English speakers might alternate between 'start' and 'beginning', início often carries a slightly more formal or structured weight than its common synonym começo, though they are frequently interchangeable in daily conversation. Understanding início is essential for A1 learners because it appears in almost every temporal context, from the start of a movie to the beginning of a new year.

Temporal Use: Refers to the point in time when something starts, such as 'o início do ano' (the beginning of the year) or 'o início da aula' (the start of the class).
Digital Context: In modern technology, you will see 'Início' on websites and apps representing the 'Home' screen or the 'Start' menu in operating systems.
Abstract Origin: Used to describe the root or cause of a situation, like 'o início de um problema' (the start of a problem).

Tudo é difícil no início, mas depois fica mais fácil.

Everything is difficult in the beginning, but later it gets easier.

In professional settings, início is the preferred term for project kick-offs or official ceremonies. For instance, 'o início das obras' (the start of the construction works) sounds more authoritative than using 'começo'. It is also the word used in the common phrase 'dar início a', which means to initiate or set something in motion. This versatility makes it one of the top 500 most used nouns in the Portuguese language across all Lusophone countries, from Brazil to Portugal and Angola.

O início do filme foi muito emocionante.

The beginning of the movie was very exciting.

Socially, início is used to mark milestones. We talk about the 'início de namoro' (the start of a relationship) or 'início de carreira' (the start of a career). It implies a sequence that follows; it is not just a point, but the first chapter of a larger narrative. This is why it is so frequently paired with the preposition 'de' (of) to specify exactly what is starting. Whether you are talking about the 'início da manhã' (early morning) or the 'início de um sonho' (the start of a dream), this word provides the temporal anchor needed to orient your listener.

Qual é a data de início do contrato?

What is the start date of the contract?

Using início correctly requires a basic understanding of Portuguese prepositions, particularly no (in the) and do/da (of the). Because início is masculine, it combines with 'em' + 'o' to become no início. This is the most common way to say 'at the beginning'. If you want to say 'the beginning of...', you use o início de or o início do/da depending on whether the following noun is definite or indefinite.

Standard Phrase: 'No início' is used to set the scene. Example: 'No início, eu não falava português' (In the beginning, I didn't speak Portuguese).
Direct Object: When something marks the start, use it as a noun: 'O juiz apitou o início da partida' (The referee whistled the start of the match).
Compound Forms: 'Desde o início' means 'from the beginning' or 'all along'. Example: 'Eu sabia disso desde o início' (I knew that from the beginning).

Vamos ler o texto desde o início.

Let's read the text from the beginning.

In more advanced constructions, início can be part of verbal phrases. The most important one is dar início a. This is a formal way to say 'to start' or 'to commence'. Instead of saying 'Vamos começar a reunião', a CEO might say 'Vamos dar início à reunião'. Notice the 'à' (contraction of a + a) because início takes the preposition 'a' and 'reunião' is feminine. This level of precision elevates your Portuguese from basic to professional.

O início das aulas é em setembro.

The start of classes is in September.

Another nuance is the use of início in the plural, though rare. Inícios might be used when discussing various starting points of different projects, but it is much more common to keep it singular even when referring to a general concept. For example, 'os inícios de carreira são difíceis' (career starts are difficult). However, for 99% of your needs, the singular início will suffice. It is a stable, reliable noun that doesn't change its meaning based on the gender of the subject it describes—it is always masculine.

Estamos no início de um novo projeto.

We are at the beginning of a new project.

If you step into a bank in Lisbon or a supermarket in São Paulo, you are likely to hear início in several specific contexts. In the business world, it's the language of schedules. You'll hear 'previsão de início' (estimated start time) on construction signs or project timelines. In the world of sports, the commentator will announce the 'início da partida' (start of the match) with great enthusiasm. It is a word that signals action is about to happen or has just commenced.

In the Office: 'Qual é o horário de início da reunião?' (What is the start time of the meeting?) is a standard question in any professional environment.
In the News: Journalists use it to describe the onset of events: 'O início das manifestações' (The start of the protests) or 'O início da crise' (The start of the crisis).
On Your Phone: Look at your phone's language settings. If set to Portuguese, the 'Home' button or the main feed of an app like Instagram or Twitter is labeled 'Início'.

Clique no botão início para voltar à página principal.

Click the home button to return to the main page.

In casual conversation, início is often used to reflect on the past. Friends might talk about 'o início da nossa amizade' (the beginning of our friendship). It carries a nostalgic tone in these contexts, focusing on the origin story of a bond. You will also hear it in the phrase 'início de conversa', which literally means 'start of conversation' but is often used idiomatically to mean 'to begin with' or 'for starters'. For example: 'Início de conversa, eu nem queria vir!' (For starters, I didn't even want to come!).

O início de semana é sempre cansativo.

The beginning of the week is always tiring.

Finally, in academic or literary contexts, início is used to discuss the opening of books or the inception of theories. A teacher might ask, 'O que acontece no início do capítulo?' (What happens at the beginning of the chapter?). It is a precise word that helps organize information. Whether you are navigating a website, attending a business meeting, or reading a novel, início is the signal that you are at the point of departure. It is the 'Go' on the Monopoly board of the Portuguese language.

Este é apenas o início de uma longa jornada.

This is just the beginning of a long journey.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with início is confusing it with the verb inicio (I start). Notice the difference: início (noun, with an accent) vs. inicio (verb, first-person singular of iniciar, no accent). If you say 'Eu início', you are making a grammatical error; you should say 'Eu inicio' (I start) or 'O início' (The beginning). The accent completely changes the word's function and pronunciation.

Preposition Confusion: Learners often say 'em o início' instead of the contracted 'no início'. In Portuguese, these contractions are mandatory. Always use 'no início'.
Gender Errors: Thinking 'início' is feminine because it might end in a soft sound. It is strictly masculine: 'O início', never 'A início'.
Overusing 'Começo': While 'começo' is fine, using only 'começo' can make your Portuguese sound repetitive and overly informal. 'Início' adds variety and professional polish.

No a início da aula...
No início da aula...

Correcting the common preposition/gender error.

Another mistake is using início when you should use princípio. While they are synonyms, princípio is often used for moral principles or the very first origin of something philosophical. If you are talking about the start of a race, início is perfect. If you are talking about the 'beginning of time', princípio is more common (e.g., 'No princípio, Deus criou...'). Using início in a philosophical context isn't 'wrong', but it might sound slightly less natural to a native ear.

Eu início o trabalho às nove.
Eu inicio o trabalho às nove.

The verb 'inicio' (I start) does not have an accent.

Lastly, be careful with the phrase 'dar início'. Many learners forget the preposition 'a' that must follow it. You don't 'dar início o projeto'; you 'dar início ao projeto' (a + o). This small 'o' or 'a' after the phrase is crucial for grammatical correctness. Paying attention to these small details—accents, contractions, and following prepositions—will distinguish you as a high-level learner who respects the nuances of the Portuguese language.

To truly master Portuguese, you need to know the 'family' of words that surround início. While início is your go-to word, knowing when to swap it for começo, princípio, or partida will make your speech more fluid and precise. Each of these words has a specific 'flavor' or register that fits different situations.

Começo: The most common synonym. It is slightly more informal and used frequently in spoken language. 'O começo do livro' is perfectly natural.
Princípio: Often refers to the 'origin' or 'fundamental basis'. It is also the word for 'principle' (as in values). 'No princípio' sounds more grand or biblical.
Abertura: Literally 'opening'. Used for events like 'a abertura das Olimpíadas' (the opening of the Olympics) or 'a abertura de uma loja'.
Partida: Usually means 'departure' or 'match/game', but can mean the 'starting point' in a race or a journey ('ponto de partida').

Qual é a diferença entre início e começo?

'Início' is more formal; 'começo' is more casual.

When choosing between início and começo, think about the context. If you are writing an email to a boss, use início. If you are telling a story to a friend about how you started dating someone, começo might feel more warm and natural. However, início is never 'wrong' in these cases, making it a very safe word for learners to rely on. It is the 'neutral' choice that works everywhere.

O início da primavera é lindo.

The start of spring is beautiful.

In technical or scientific writing, you might encounter gênese (genesis) or surgimento (emergence/appearance). These are much more specific. For example, 'o surgimento de uma nova espécie' (the emergence of a new species). As an A1 learner, you don't need to use these yet, but recognizing that início is the foundation for all these more complex ideas will help you build a mental map of the language. Stick with início for now, and you will always be understood.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The Latin root 'initium' also gave us the English word 'initial' and 'initiate'. In Portuguese, the word has maintained a very close spelling and meaning to its 2,000-year-old ancestor.

Guide de prononciation

UK /iˈni.sju/

US /iˈni.sjoʊ/

The stress is on the second syllable: i-NÍ-cio.

Rime avec

vício edifício sacrifício exercício ofício hospício artifício precipício

Erreurs fréquentes

Stressing the first syllable (Í-nicio) - incorrect.
Stressing the last syllable (Ini-CIÓ) - incorrect.
Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k' sound - it should be an 's' sound.
Forgetting the accent when writing.
Pronouncing it as four syllables (i-ni-ci-o) instead of three (i-ni-cio).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize due to English cognates like 'initial'.

Écriture 2/5

Requires remembering the acute accent on the 'í'.

Expression orale 2/5

Stress must be on the second syllable, which can be tricky for beginners.

Écoute 1/5

Clear pronunciation and very common in media.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

o de em dia hora

Apprends ensuite

iniciar começar fim final primeiro

Avancé

gênese prelúdio inauguração desfecho

Grammaire à connaître

Contractions with 'em'

em + o = no início

Contractions with 'de'

de + o = do início

Proparoxytone Accents

Words stressed on the 3rd to last syllable like 'início' always have an accent.

Masculine Noun Agreement

O início (masculine article).

Preposition 'a' with 'dar início'

Dar início a + a = dar início à reunião.

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Exemples par niveau

O início do filme é às oito.

The start of the movie is at eight.

Uses 'o início' as the subject.

No início, eu não gosto de café.

In the beginning, I don't like coffee.

Uses the contraction 'no' (em + o).

O início da aula é agora.

The start of the class is now.

Uses 'da' (de + a) for feminine 'aula'.

Este é o início da rua.

This is the start of the street.

Demonstrative 'este' with 'o início'.

Qual é o início do livro?

What is the beginning of the book?

Interrogative sentence.

O início do dia é calmo.

The beginning of the day is calm.

Adjective 'calmo' modifying the subject phrase.

Eu vejo o início da ponte.

I see the start of the bridge.

Direct object of the verb 'ver'.

O início é fácil.

The beginning is easy.

Simple subject-verb-adjective structure.

Estamos no início da semana.

We are at the beginning of the week.

Present tense of 'estar' indicating location in time.

Eu trabalho desde o início do mês.

I have been working since the beginning of the month.

'Desde o' indicates a starting point in the past.

O início das férias é em julho.

The start of the holidays is in July.

Plural 'férias' requires 'das' (de + as).

Eles voltaram para o início.

They went back to the beginning.

Preposition 'para' indicating direction.

O início do jogo foi bom.

The start of the game was good.

Past tense 'foi' (ser).

Você sabe o início da história?

Do you know the beginning of the story?

Verb 'saber' with 'o início' as object.

O início do inverno é frio.

The start of winter is cold.

General statement about seasons.

No início de tudo, não havia nada.

In the beginning of everything, there was nothing.

Abstract use of 'tudo'.

Vamos dar início à reunião agora.

Let's start the meeting now.

Idiomatic phrase 'dar início a'.

O início de carreira pode ser difícil.

The start of a career can be difficult.

Abstract noun 'carreira' without article.

Ele mentiu desde o início.

He lied from the beginning.

Adverbial phrase of time.

O início da construção foi adiado.

The start of the construction was postponed.

Passive voice 'foi adiado'.

Este é o início de uma grande amizade.

This is the beginning of a great friendship.

Noun phrase with adjective 'grande'.

No início, tudo parecia perfeito.

In the beginning, everything seemed perfect.

Imperfect tense 'parecia'.

O início do projeto foi um sucesso.

The start of the project was a success.

Predicate nominative 'um sucesso'.

Início de conversa, eu não concordo.

For starters, I don't agree.

Idiomatic conversational filler.

O início das hostilidades mudou tudo.

The start of the hostilities changed everything.

Formal vocabulary 'hostilidades'.

Aguardamos o início do processo legal.

We await the start of the legal process.

Formal verb 'aguardar'.

O início da puberdade varia muito.

The onset of puberty varies a lot.

Scientific/biological context.

Desde o início dos tempos, o homem busca respostas.

Since the beginning of time, man seeks answers.

Philosophical/Historical tone.

O início do espetáculo foi marcado por aplausos.

The start of the show was marked by applause.

Passive construction 'foi marcado por'.

Não houve um início formal para a crise.

There wasn't a formal start to the crisis.

Negative existential 'não houve'.

O início da trilha é bem sinalizado.

The start of the trail is well-marked.

Participle 'sinalizado' as adjective.

O início de um novo ciclo exige coragem.

The start of a new cycle requires courage.

Abstract subject with verb 'exigir'.

O início da obra literária é impactante.

The opening of the literary work is impactful.

Literary criticism context.

Analisamos o início da inflação no país.

We analyzed the onset of inflation in the country.

Economic/Analytical context.

O início da sessão foi conturbado.

The start of the session was turbulent.

Sophisticated adjective 'conturbado'.

A gênese e o início do conflito são distintos.

The genesis and the start of the conflict are distinct.

Nuanced comparison of synonyms.

O início da jornada heróica segue um padrão.

The start of the heroic journey follows a pattern.

Academic/Mythological context.

Marcaram o início das negociações para amanhã.

They set the start of negotiations for tomorrow.

Third-person plural for unspecified subject.

O início do declínio romano foi lento.

The start of the Roman decline was slow.

Historical analysis.

No início da década, a tecnologia era outra.

At the beginning of the decade, technology was different.

Temporal contrast.

O início do universo permanece um mistério insondável.

The beginning of the universe remains an unfathomable mystery.

High-level philosophical/scientific tone.

Aquele foi o início do fim para o império.

That was the beginning of the end for the empire.

Idiomatic 'início do fim'.

O início da peça teatral subverte as expectativas.

The beginning of the play subverts expectations.

Sophisticated verb 'subverter'.

Desde o seu início mais remoto, a vida se adapta.

From its most remote beginning, life adapts.

Superlative/adjectival nuance.

O início da modernidade é um tema debatido.

The onset of modernity is a debated topic.

Historiographical context.

O início da sinfonia é um crescendo magistral.

The start of the symphony is a masterful crescendo.

Musicology context.

A precisão do início é vital para o experimento.

The precision of the start is vital for the experiment.

Scientific precision.

O início da narrativa in media res confunde o leitor.

The start of the narrative in media res confuses the reader.

Technical literary term 'in media res'.

Collocations courantes

dar início a

no início de

desde o início

data de início

horário de início

início de sessão

ponto de início

previsão de início

início de carreira

logo no início

Phrases Courantes

Início de conversa

— Used to introduce the first point in an argument, similar to 'for starters'.

Início de conversa, eu nem te conheço!

No início de tudo

— Referring to the very first moment of a long sequence of events.

No início de tudo, éramos apenas dois funcionários.

Bom início de semana

— A common greeting used on Mondays to wish someone a good start to the week.

Bom início de semana para todos!

Página de início

— The home page of a website or browser.

Defina esta como sua página de início.

Início imediato

— Used in job ads to indicate the position starts right away.

Vaga para início imediato.

Do início ao fim

— From the beginning to the end; entirely.

Eu li o livro do início ao fim.

Marcar o início

— To signal or represent the start of something significant.

Este evento marca o início de uma nova era.

Início de namoro

— The early stages of a romantic relationship.

O início de namoro é sempre romântico.

Dar o início

— To perform the action that starts something.

O prefeito deu o início às obras.

Voltar ao início

— To start over from the very beginning.

Se errar, você deve voltar ao início.

Souvent confondu avec

início vs inicio

The verb form 'I start'. It has no accent and the stress is on the 'ni'.

início vs incio

A common misspelling. Always check for the 'í'.

início vs inicia

The third-person verb form 'he/she starts'. It is an action, not a noun.

Expressions idiomatiques

"O bom início é metade do trabalho"

— Starting well makes the rest of the task much easier.

Planeje bem, pois o bom início é metade do trabalho.

proverb

"Estar no início"

— To be in the early stages of something, often implying there is a long way to go.

Não desanime, o projeto ainda está no início.

neutral

"Desde o início dos tempos"

— Since forever; a hyperbolic way to say something has always been true.

O homem busca a felicidade desde o início dos tempos.

literary

"Início de conversa"

— As a first point of discussion, often used defensively.

Início de conversa, você nem deveria estar aqui.

informal

"O início do fim"

— The first sign that something is going to fail or end.

Aquela briga foi o início do fim do casamento.

neutral

"Dar o pontapé de início"

— To kick off something (borrowed from soccer).

Vamos dar o pontapé de início na campanha.

informal

"No início era o Verbo"

— A biblical reference often used to talk about the power of words or origins.

Como diz a Bíblia, no início era o Verbo.

religious/literary

"Início de vida"

— Refers to one's childhood or early upbringing.

Ele teve um início de vida difícil no interior.

neutral

"Fazer um novo início"

— To start over completely, often after a failure.

Ela mudou de cidade para fazer um novo início.

neutral

"Início promissor"

— A start that shows signs of future success.

O atleta teve um início promissor na liga.

neutral

Facile à confondre

início vs começo

They mean the same thing.

'Início' is slightly more formal and used in digital interfaces. 'Começo' is more common in casual speech.

O começo da conversa foi estranho. / O início do contrato é hoje.

início vs princípio

Both refer to the start.

'Princípio' often refers to a fundamental rule or a very distant origin.

É uma questão de princípio. / No início da aula, ele chegou.

início vs inicial

Related root.

'Início' is a noun (the start), 'inicial' is an adjective (first/starting).

O início foi bom. / A fase inicial foi difícil.

início vs iniciar

Related root.

'Início' is the noun, 'iniciar' is the verb.

Vamos iniciar o início do processo.

início vs partida

Can mean start.

'Partida' is specifically for races, games, or departures.

O início do jogo. / A partida do trem.

Structures de phrases

O início de [noun] é [time/adjective].

O início da aula é às 9h.

No início, [sentence].

No início, eu estava cansado.

Desde o início de [noun], [sentence].

Desde o início do ano, eu estudo muito.

Estamos no início de [noun].

Estamos no início de um novo mês.

Vamos dar início a [noun].

Vamos dar início à apresentação.

Este é o início de [abstract noun].

Este é o início de uma nova fase.

O início foi marcado por [noun].

O início foi marcado por muita emoção.

A análise do início de [complex noun] revela...

A análise do início da crise revela falhas graves.

Famille de mots

Noms

iniciativa

iniciante

iniciação

Verbes

iniciar

reiniciar

Adjectifs

inicial

iniciático

Apparenté

começo

princípio

estréia

abertura

partida

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high; essential vocabulary.

Erreurs courantes

Eu início o trabalho. → Eu inicio o trabalho.
The verb 'inicio' (I start) does not have an accent. The noun 'início' (the start) does.
No a início da aula. → No início da aula.
You don't need 'a' after 'no'. 'No' already contains the masculine article 'o'.
A início do filme. → O início do filme.
'Início' is a masculine noun, so it requires the masculine article 'o'.
Dar início o projeto. → Dar início ao projeto.
The phrase 'dar início' requires the preposition 'a'. 'A' + 'o' (from projeto) = 'ao'.
Desde o começo dos tempos. → Desde o início/princípio dos tempos.
While not 'wrong', 'começo' is too informal for such a grand, historical phrase.

Astuces

Mandatory Contractions

Never say 'em o início'. Always contract it to 'no início'. This is a hallmark of natural Portuguese.

The 'í' is Key

The accent on the 'í' isn't just for writing; it tells you where to put the energy in your voice. i-NÍ-cio.

Formal vs Informal

If you want to sound more educated or professional, choose 'início' over 'começo' in your writing.

Digital Navigation

When using an app in Portuguese, the 'Início' button is your way back to the main screen.

Monday Greeting

Say 'Bom início de semana' to colleagues on Monday morning. It's a very polite and common greeting.

Avoid Verb Confusion

Double-check your accents. 'Eu inicio' (I start) has no accent. 'O início' (the start) does.

For Starters

Use 'Início de conversa' when you want to make a strong first point in a discussion.

News Cues

Reporters often use 'início' to introduce a new segment or topic. Listen for it to know when the subject changes.

Initial Link

Link 'início' to 'initial' in English. They both come from the same Latin root and deal with the first part of something.

Dar Início

Master the phrase 'dar início a'. It makes you sound much more fluent than just using 'começar'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the 'Initial' letter of a word. The 'Initial' is at the 'Início'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a green 'Start' button on a computer screen. In Portuguese, that button would say 'Início'.

Word Web

Começo Iniciar Inicial Fim Data Hora Projeto Vida

Défi

Try to use 'início' three times today: once for the time you started work, once for the start of a show, and once for the start of a meal.

Origine du mot

From the Latin word 'initium', which means 'entrance', 'beginning', or 'commencement'.

Sens originel : A going in, an entrance; hence, a beginning.

Romance (Latin root)

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities. It is a neutral, temporal noun.

English speakers often use 'start' and 'beginning' interchangeably. In Portuguese, 'início' is slightly more formal, similar to 'commencement'.

The 'Início' button on Windows (Start Menu) in Portuguese versions. Genesis 1:1 in the Portuguese Bible: 'No princípio...' (a close synonym). The song 'Início' by various Brazilian artists exploring new beginnings.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Technology

Página de início
Início de sessão
Menu iniciar
Voltar ao início

Work/Business

Data de início
Horário de início
Dar início ao projeto
Início imediato

Time/Calendar

No início do mês
Início de semana
Desde o início do ano
No início da manhã

Entertainment

Início do filme
Início do show
Início da partida
No início do capítulo

Social/Relationships

Início de namoro
Início de amizade
No início de tudo
Início de conversa

Amorces de conversation

"O que você gosta de fazer no início do dia?"

"Qual foi o seu início de carreira?"

"Você prefere o início ou o fim do verão?"

"Como foi o início da sua jornada aprendendo português?"

"O que você achou do início do último filme que viu?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva como é o seu início de manhã ideal.

Escreva sobre o início de uma amizade importante para você.

Quais são os seus objetivos para o início do próximo ano?

Reflita sobre um novo início que você teve que fazer na vida.

Descreva o início de um livro que você nunca esqueceu.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It is masculine. You always say 'o início' or 'um início'. Even if the thing starting is feminine (like 'a aula'), 'início' remains masculine: 'o início da aula'.

They are mostly interchangeable. However, 'início' is preferred in formal writing, business, and technology (like 'Home' buttons). 'Começo' is more frequent in everyday spoken Portuguese.

In Portuguese, all proparoxytone words (words where the stress is on the third-to-last syllable) must have a written accent. Since the stress is on 'ní', it requires the acute accent.

You say 'no início'. This is a contraction of the preposition 'em' (in/at) and the article 'o' (the).

Yes, 'Início' is the standard translation for 'Home' in Portuguese web design and software.

You say 'desde o início'. It's a very common phrase to describe something that has been happening since the start.

The most common verbs are 'iniciar' and 'começar'. 'Iniciar' is related to 'início'.

Yes, you can say 'o início da vida' to refer to someone's early years or the biological start of life.

Yes, 'inícios' exists, but it is much less common than the singular form. You might use it when comparing the starting points of several different things.

Yes, it is used identically in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

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