começo

Começo is a Portuguese noun meaning the beginning or start of something. It denotes the initial point in time, the first phase of a process, or the onset of an event. The term is used in both European and Brazilian Portuguese and appears in spoken and written language to frame chronology or origins.

Common expressions include no começo (at the beginning), desde o começo (since the beginning), ao começo (at the onset), and do começo ao fim (from start to finish). It is employed in historical accounts, narratives, and everyday speech to indicate where something begins or to mark the early stages of a situation.

Synonyms and nuances: início and princípio are closely related. Começo often emphasizes a concrete onset or a concrete phase, while início or princípio can carry more formal or abstract connotations. Phrases like desde o começo highlight continuity from the earliest point.

Grammar and orthography: Começo is a masculine noun; its plural is começos. It is used with definite articles such as o começo. The word contains the letter ç, which represents an /s/ sound before the o. In phrases, it can be contrasted with other time-related terms to convey different degrees of formality or temporality.

See also: início, princípio. In other Romance languages, related terms include comienzo in Spanish and inizio in Italian, reflecting shared Latin roots for concepts of onset and origin.