Learn Spanish/English Phrases (all levels, both languages): "empezar de cero"

Question

Hi fellow Spanish Addicts! "Learn Spanish/English Phrases" is a daily thread that will focus on giving us the tools to understand the phrases in Spanish that cannot be translated word for word! Phrases are one of the keys to translating rapidly and becoming conversational quickly.

Here is your chance to learn 365 new Spanish phrases this year!

---

---

This is how it works:

---

•Read the Spanish phrase of the day.

•Read any alternate wording I may have included

•Read the example sentences in Spanish

•Try to guess the meaning of the Spanish phrase

•Only then read the English translation

• Use the Spanish phrase in your own sentence with an English translation included in italics.

---

Nota: Si estás practicando inglés, esribes una frase en inglés y después en español.

---

---

The best answer will be chosen based on creativity, votes and correct phraseology in a sentence. It will also be entered in the SpanishDict phrasebook as an example sentence. You will go down in SpanishDict posterity! Remember to click on "watch this question" as your answer needs to have all suggested corrections in order to be used in the phrasebook.

---

---

Note: Participating by following the six steps above, including writing your own sentence, rewards your efforts with the ability to retain the new phrase in your memory.

---

---

Our phrase is:

---

---

Empezar de cero, empezar desde cero

---

---

ejemplo:

---

---

Empezó desde cero cuando perdió su trabajo.

---

---

English Example:

---

---

He started from square one when he lost his job.

---

---

English Phrase:

to start from scratch, to start at square one, to start from nothing, to make a clean sweep of

Have fun!

• Hi! correction: cuando perdió (perdido is wrong) :) - AntMexico Apr 6, 2010
• Thanks...I knew perdido didn't sound right.. - renaerules Apr 6, 2010

Answer 1

Tuvieron que empezar de cero después del incendio, pero se sentían felices por estar vivos.

They had to start from scratch after the fire, but they felt happy for being alive.

• ;( - Heidita Apr 7, 2010
• Congratulations Luz! This sentence will be entered into the phrase book1 - renaerules Apr 8, 2010
• ...me quedo muy contenta Renae, muchas gracias:) - luz_72 Apr 8, 2010

Answer 2

Cuando su proyecto fracasó otra vez, él sabía que debía empezar de cero.

When his project failed again, he knew he must start from scratch.

• no subjects! - Heidita Apr 7, 2010

Answer 3

Empezar de cero puede ser un gran oportunidad para crear una vida nueva.

Starting from zero can be a great opportunity to create a brand new life.

Answer 4

Cuando he movido, tenía a empezar de cero. Encontrar una nueva habitación, un nuevo trabajo y una nueva vida.

When I moved, I had to start over. Find a new room, a new job and a new life.

• Cuando me mudé tuve que empezar de cero y encontrar...over and find... - alba3 Apr 7, 2010
• not corrected - Heidita Apr 7, 2010

Answer 5

They made amends after the argument and decided to start from square one in their relationship. Compensaron después de la discusión y dicidieron empazaron de cero en la relación.

• decidieron empezar... - alba3 Apr 7, 2010

Answer 6

Empezar desde cero

Encendiendo el fuego que me pone a temblar

Comenzando de nuevo

Convenciendo al tiempo que me deje suspirar

Uno a uno tus besos

Van brincando el cerco

Y te quiero más y más

English translation

Starting from nothing

(I'm) lighting the fire that puts me on tremble

(I'm) starting again

(I'm) convincing to the time that lets me sigh

One by one your kisses

They're jumping the hoop

And I love you more and more

From "Empezar desde cero" by R B D

• fidalgo, gerund= infinitive in spanish - Heidita Apr 7, 2010
• Thanks, Heidi. It is good for me to know that. However, I haven't figured out what you implied here. I rewrote it after reading the lyrics - Fidalguinho Apr 7, 2010
• Convincing time to let me sigh. - alba3 Apr 7, 2010
• fidalgo, all the ing forms convert to infinitives in Spanish - Heidita Apr 7, 2010
• Thanks for all your kind words - Fidalguinho Apr 7, 2010

Answer 7

Yo quiero empezar desde cero porque mi vida es imposible ahora mismo. I want to start from scratch because my life is imposible right now.

• no subject pronouns - Heidita Apr 7, 2010

Answer 8

El bebé empieza de cero al aprender un idioma, y lo hace mejor que nosotros, los adultos. ???

The baby starts from scratch when learning a language, and he does it better than us, the adults.

• hace - Heidita Apr 7, 2010
• Gracias Heidita. - Krama Apr 7, 2010

Answer 9

Los concursantes en 'The Amazing Race' continuaron con la tarea con los tortugas, porque no quisieron empezar desde cero en la otra.

The contestants on "The Amazing Race" continued with the task with the turtles, because they didn't want to start from square one on the other.

Answer 10

Empezar de cero, empezar desde cero

Literally, to start from zero.

Empezamos de cero después del terremoto.

We had to start all over after the earthquake.

• Tuvimos que empezar... - alba3 Apr 7, 2010

Answer 11

¡Están hoy ya dos meses que estoy aprendiendo español! Empecé desde cero, lo hizo solo y me alegro de que sé mucho ahora!

Today already are two months that I am learning spanish! I started from nothing, did it alone and I am happy that I know quite a lot now!

• As of today, I've already spent two months learning Spanish! or As of today, it will be two months that I've been learning Spanish. - alba3 Apr 7, 2010

Answer 12

Aunque aprendí algo de español en el colegio hace casi treinta y cinco años,empecé desde cero el otoño pasado.

Although I learned some Spanish in high school almost 35 years ago, I started over from scratch last fall.

• Aunque aprendí algo de español... - alba3 Apr 7, 2010

Answer 13

When a person goes blind he has start from scratch his life.

Cuando una persona se queda ciega, tiene que empezar desde cero su vida

Answer 14

Congratulations Luz! This sentence will be entered in the phrasebook!