Portuguese Phrase
Queria começar por...
Meaning
Literally, “I would like to start with…”. The speaker is politely indicating the first item they intend to discuss, present, or do. It softens the statement, making it sound less abrupt and more collaborative.
When to use
Use this phrase at the beginning of meetings, presentations, classroom discussions, or any situation where you need to outline a sequence of points. It works both in formal and semi‑formal contexts, especially when you want to show respect for others’ opinions before moving on.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Queriacomeçarpor...
Queria (conditional)
Queria is the imperfect conditional of querer, used to express a polite desire or a hypothetical wish.
começar (infinitive)
The verb começar stays in its infinitive form after the conditional verb.
por (preposition)
Por introduces the element that will be the first point in a sequence; it is the standard preposition after começar when you mean “to start with”.
Ellipsis (…)
The three dots indicate that the speaker will continue with the specific item they want to start with.
🗨In Conversation
Queria começar por analisar os resultados do último trimestre.
I would like to start by analysing the results of the last quarter.
Claro, depois podemos falar sobre as metas para o próximo semestre.
Sure, then we can talk about the goals for the next semester.
✕Common Mistakes
Queria começar com o primeiro ponto.
While “com” is understandable, native speakers prefer “por” after começar when you mean “to start with”.
Queria começar por a reunião.
If you want to start an action, use the infinitive directly after “por” (e.g., “por fazer” is correct, but many learners mistakenly add a noun instead of a verb).
Queria começar por.
Leaving the phrase hanging without completing the idea can be confusing; always follow with the specific item or topic.
↔Alternatives
Gostaria de iniciar com...
I would like to begin with...
Vou começar por...
I will start with...
Primeiro, gostaria de...
First, I would like to...
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese, the conditional (queria, gostaria) is a common way to soften requests or suggestions, especially in professional settings. Using “por” after começar is the most natural choice; “com” is also heard but can sound slightly less formal. Pay attention to tone – a friendly, calm voice reinforces the polite intent of the phrase.