empezar and comenzar

Question

What is the difference between comenzar and empezar? do they have different usages?

Answer 1

There's no difference

Answer 2

thanks a lot

Answer 3

Both words mean "to begin", but I think comenzar indicates more along the lines of "to commence", seeing that in is relatively similar to the english word commence. (COMMENzar --> to COMMENce) That's only a guess though.

*seeing that IT is relatively similar* - paytonhansen, Feb 12, 2010