"Début" is probably the first word that comes to mind when you want to say “beginning” in French. But, just like in English, there are many nuanced ways to express the start of something!As you embark on your French learning journey, you'll encounter countless situations where you need to refer to the commencement of an event, a project, or even a new chapter. Mastering these different expressions will significantly enhance your fluency and make your French sound much more natural.Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “beginning” in French and see how to use them effectively!

The general 'beginning' or 'start' – début

Début is the most common and versatile French word for 'beginning' or 'start'.

As a noun, début is always masculine. You will use it with masculine articles like le (the), un (a/an), or possessive adjectives like mon, son.

It's widely used to refer to the start of a period of time, an event, a project, a career, or anything that has a defined inception point.

One of its most frequent uses is in the phrase au début, which translates to "at the beginning" or "in the beginning." This is essential for temporal references.

While début is a noun, it's closely related to the verb débuter (to begin or to start). However, début itself focuses on the point or period of initiation.

While commencement also means 'beginning', début is generally more common in everyday language and often implies a more distinct or celebrated start, like the beginning of a career or a show.

💡 * Au début du film, l'acteur principal est présenté. (At the beginning of the film, the main actor is introduced.)

Le début de sa carrière fut difficile. (The beginning of his career was difficult.)

Nous avons adoré le début du concert. (We loved the beginning of the concert.)

C'est un bon début pour notre projet. (It's a good start for our project.)

J'ai eu du mal à comprendre au début. (I had trouble understanding at the beginning.)

The 'commencement' or 'start' of an action – commencement

The 'commencement' or 'start' of an action – commencement

When discussing the 'start' or 'beginning' of an action, event, or process in French, the noun commencement is a precise and often formal choice.

You'll frequently encounter commencement in official documents, legal texts, or academic settings, referring to the formal initiation of something significant. For example, le commencement des travaux (the start of works) or le commencement d'une procédure (the commencement of a procedure).

While it directly translates to 'beginning,' commencement often carries a weightier, more deliberate sense than its common synonym, début. It implies a formal launch or a foundational stage rather than a casual start.

Unlike début, which can refer to any general beginning (like le début du film - the start of the movie), commencement suggests a more structured, planned, or significant initiation, often with a specific point in time or a ceremonial aspect.

It directly relates to the verb commencer (to begin/to start), making its meaning intuitive for English speakers familiar with 'to commence' or 'commencement' (as in a graduation ceremony).

Remember commencement when you need to convey a formal, significant, or initial stage of an action, especially in written or professional contexts, highlighting the official launch of something important.

💡 * Le commencement des hostilités a été inattendu. (The commencement of hostilities was unexpected.)

Nous attendons le commencement des travaux. (We are waiting for the start of the works.)

Son discours a marqué le commencement de la conférence. (His speech marked the commencement of the conference.)

Dès le commencement du projet, des défis sont apparus. (From the start of the project, challenges appeared.)

C'est le commencement d'une nouvelle ère pour l'entreprise. (It's the beginning of a new era for the company.)

The 'origin' or 'source' – origine

The French word origine (pronounced oh-ree-ZHEEN) directly translates to 'origin' or 'source' in English. It's a fundamental term used to describe where something comes from, its beginning, or its point of inception.

Origine is a feminine noun in French, so it always takes feminine articles and adjectives, such as une origine or la bonne origine.

You'll encounter origine in various contexts, from discussing the geographical or cultural background of a person or product to referring to the source of a problem, an idea, or even a river.

A very common and important usage is the phrase d'origine, which means 'originally from' or 'of origin.' For example, 'Il est d'origine française' means 'He is of French origin' or 'He is originally from France'.

Beyond simple 'origin,' origine can also imply the cause, root, or even the initial state of something. It's a versatile word for tracing back to the beginning.

💡 * Quelle est l'origine de ce mot ? (What is the origin of this word?)

Ce vin est d'origine contrôlée. (This wine is of controlled origin.)

Elle est d'origine espagnole. (She is of Spanish origin.)

Nous devons trouver l'origine du problème. (We must find the source of the problem.)

Le fleuve prend son origine dans les montagnes. (The river takes its source in the mountains.)

The 'inception' or 'genesis' – genèse

The “inception” or “genesis” – genèse

Genèse means “genesis,” “inception,” or “origin” in French, referring to the beginning or formation of something.

It is a feminine noun, always preceded by a feminine article (e.g., la genèse).

This term is often used in formal or literary contexts to describe the creation, development, or origin of a concept, project, or story.

💡 * La genèse d'un projet est souvent la partie la plus difficile. (The genesis of a project is often the most difficult part.)

J'ai lu un livre sur la genèse de l'univers. (I read a book about the genesis of the universe.)

L'auteur a expliqué la genèse de son roman. (The author explained the inception of his novel.)

On étudie la genèse des espèces. (We are studying the genesis of species.)

The 'opening' or 'start' (often for events, books) – ouverture

The 'opening' or 'start' (often for events, books) – ouverture

Ouverture is a versatile French noun that primarily means 'opening' or 'start'.

It's commonly used to refer to the opening of an event, such as a concert, exhibition, or festival. Think of it as the inauguration or the very beginning of something significant.

Ouverture can also describe the opening of a book (like a preface or introduction), a play, or a film. It sets the scene for what's to come.

Beyond events and works, ouverture can signify the opening of a space (like a shop's opening hours – heures d'ouverture) or even an opportunity or a new perspective, implying accessibility.

Its meaning always revolves around the idea of something commencing, becoming accessible, or being revealed.

💡 L'ouverture du festival est prévue pour 18h. (The opening of the festival is scheduled for 6 PM.)
J'ai adoré l'ouverture de ce roman. (I loved the beginning/opening of this novel.)
Les heures d'ouverture du musée sont de 10h à 17h. (The museum's opening hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM.)
Cette nouvelle approche offre de nouvelles ouvertures. (This new approach offers new opportunities/perspectives.)
L'ouverture de la pièce était très captivante. (The opening of the play was very captivating.)

The 'prelude' or 'introduction' – prélude

The French word prélude directly translates to 'prelude' or 'introduction' in English. It refers to something that comes before a main event or piece, setting the stage or providing an opening.

You'll most often encounter prélude in artistic and formal contexts. In music, it denotes a short composition, often preceding a larger work (like a fugue) or standing alone. In literature, it can be an introductory part of a larger text. Metaphorically, it describes an event that acts as a precursor to something more significant.

Unlike the more general introduction, prélude carries a slightly more elegant, formal, or even poetic nuance. It suggests a deliberate, often artistic, opening rather than a simple or casual beginning.

While introduction is a direct cognate and more common for general introductions (e.g., 'introduction à un livre'), prélude specifies an introductory piece or event with a distinct character. Other related words include début (a beginning, especially of a career or performance) or avant-propos (a foreword in a book).

💡 *Ce morceau est un magnifique prélude à l'opéra. (This piece is a magnificent prelude to the opera.)
*Son discours fut le prélude à des discussions plus sérieuses. (His speech was the prelude to more serious discussions.)
*Le brouillard matinal était un prélude à la tempête. (The morning fog was a prelude to the storm.)
*Elle a écrit un prélude poétique pour son roman. (She wrote a poetic prelude for her novel.)

The 'dawn' or 'break of day' (often figurative for a new beginning) – aube

The French word aube directly translates to 'dawn' or 'break of day,' referring to the very first light of morning before sunrise.

Beyond its literal meaning, aube is frequently used in a figurative sense to denote a 'new beginning,' 'the start of an era,' or a 'fresh start,' symbolizing hope and renewal.

Aube is a feminine noun in French, so it is always preceded by feminine articles like l'aube (due to the vowel sound) or une aube.

💡 * L'aube se lève, annonçant un nouveau jour. (Dawn breaks, announcing a new day.)

Nous avons marché toute la nuit et sommes arrivés à l'aube. (We walked all night and arrived at dawn.)

C'est l'aube d'une nouvelle ère pour notre entreprise. (It's the dawn of a new era for our company.)

Cette découverte marque l'aube de la médecine moderne. (This discovery marks the dawn of modern medicine.)

Ils ont attendu l'aube pour lancer leur attaque. (They waited for dawn to launch their attack.)

The 'first steps' or 'early stages' – balbutiements

The French word balbutiements refers to the 'first steps' or 'early stages' of something, often implying a tentative or hesitant beginning.

Unlike literal 'first steps' in walking, balbutiements is almost exclusively used in a figurative sense. It describes the nascent phase of a project, an idea, a system, or even a skill, suggesting a period of development that is still fragile and uncertain.

This noun comes from the verb balbutier, meaning 'to stammer' or 'to babble.' This connection perfectly captures the essence of balbutiements: a beginning that is perhaps clumsy, unrefined, or not yet fully formed, much like a child's first words.

You'll frequently encounter balbutiements when discussing the genesis of new technologies, political movements, artistic endeavors, or personal learning curves. It's a slightly formal term that conveys a sense of emerging potential.

💡 * Les balbutiements d'une nouvelle technologie sont souvent difficiles. (The early stages of a new technology are often difficult.)

Nous assistons aux balbutiements d'une nouvelle ère. (We are witnessing the dawn/early stages of a new era.)

Son roman était encore à ses balbutiements. (His novel was still in its early stages.)

Malgré les balbutiements, le projet montre un grand potentiel. (Despite the early stages, the project shows great potential.)

The 'principle' or 'foundation' – principe

The French word for 'principle' or 'foundation' is principe.

Principe is a masculine noun. Its plural form is principes.

It's used to refer to a fundamental truth, a belief, or a general law. For instance, 'the principles of physics' would be les principes de la physique.

Beyond general truths, principe can also denote a rule of conduct, a moral standard, or a basic element upon which something is built. Think of 'a guiding principle' as un principe directeur.

A very common expression using this word is en principe, which means 'in principle' or 'in theory'. It often implies that something is true or planned, but there might be exceptions or practical difficulties.

💡 *C'est un principe fondamental. (It's a fundamental principle.)
*Il respecte toujours ses principes. (He always respects his principles.)
*En principe, la réunion commence à 9h. (In principle, the meeting starts at 9 AM.)
*Quels sont les principes de base de ce projet ? (What are the basic principles of this project?)
*Elle a des principes moraux très forts. (She has very strong moral principles.)

Are there other ways to say 'beginning' in French?

Are there other ways to say “beginning” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “beginning” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire début en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for début on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about beginnings.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of beginnings, or words about starting something in French, the WordReference entry for début is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Lao Tzu: Le voyage de mille lieues commence par un premier pas. (A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.)

9 ways to say "beginning" in French