Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja.

the lesson

Breakdown of Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja.

• zaczynać się: to start
• zaraz: in a moment

Questions & Answers about Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja.

What exactly does the word zaraz mean here?

It means “very soon,” “in a moment,” or “right away,” depending on context. It signals that the action is imminent. Close synonyms include za chwilę (“in a moment”), za moment, and the more neutral wkrótce (“soon”). You’ll also hear już in similar contexts, but już often means “already” and can carry a different nuance.

Why is zaczyna (present tense) used to talk about something that hasn’t happened yet?

Polish often uses the present tense of imperfective verbs to talk about the near future, especially with time adverbs like zaraz. So zaczyna here is “is starting/starts (soon),” similar to English “The lesson starts in a minute.” Polish doesn’t have a separate “present progressive” form—simple present covers both “starts” and “is starting.”

What does się do in zaczyna się?

Się is a reflexive/“middle voice” particle. With zaczynać się, it turns the verb into “to begin/start (by itself)”—that is, an event starts. Without się, zaczynać is transitive: “to start something.” Compare:

• Lekcja się zaczyna. = “The lesson is starting.”
• Zaczynam lekcję. = “I am starting the lesson.”

Where can się go in the sentence? Are other placements okay?

Yes, several word orders are natural:

• Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja.
• Zaraz się zaczyna lekcja.
• Lekcja zaraz się zaczyna.
• Lekcja zaczyna się zaraz. General tips:
• Się cannot start a clause: not ×Się lekcja…
• It typically appears right after the first stressed element or next to the verb.
• It can appear at the end of a clause (e.g., Lekcja zaczyna się), though here we also have lekcja after the verb, so się appears before it.

What’s the difference between zaczyna się and zacznie się?

• Zaczyna się (imperfective, present) = “is starting/starts,” often used for ongoing processes, schedules, or the near future with zaraz.
• Zacznie się (perfective, future) = “will begin,” focusing on the moment of starting. With zaraz, both are fine:
• Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja. ≈ “The lesson is starting in a moment.”
• Zaraz zacznie się lekcja. ≈ “The lesson will begin in a moment.” (slightly sharper focus on the start point)

Could I say Zaraz zaczynam lekcję? What would that mean?

Yes. That means “I’m about to start the lesson” (speaker = the person starting it). Note the case change:

• Zaczynam lekcję. (accusative object) Compare with the original, where the lesson is the subject:
• Zaraz zaczyna się lekcja.

Why is it lekcja and not lekcję in this sentence?

Because lekcja is the subject (nominative singular feminine). You’d use lekcję (accusative) when it’s the direct object of someone starting it:

• Subject: Lekcja się zaczyna. (nominative)
• Object: Zaczynam lekcję. (accusative)

Where are the articles (“the/a”)? How do I express “the lesson”?

Polish has no articles. Lekcja can mean “a lesson” or “the lesson,” depending on context. If you need to be specific, use a demonstrative or a possessive:

• ta lekcja = “this/the lesson”
• moja lekcja = “my lesson”

Can I start with Lekcja instead of Zaraz? Does word order change the meaning?

Yes:

• Lekcja zaraz się zaczyna.
• Lekcja zaczyna się zaraz. Word order primarily affects emphasis:
• Starting with Zaraz emphasizes imminence (“very soon”).
• Starting with Lekcja emphasizes the lesson as the topic. All variants are natural in speech.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximate guide:

• Zaraz: ZA-raz; final z is pronounced [z] before a voiced sound (like the following z in zaczyna), but at the end of an utterance it devoices to [s].
• zaczyna: za-CHY-nah; cz = hard “ch” (retroflex, like English “ch” but thicker).
• się: roughly “shyeh” (the nasalization is light in everyday speech).
• lekcja: LEK-tsya; kc
  • ja gives a “k-tsya” sequence, not “lek-sha.” Stress is penultimate in Polish: za-RAZ za-CZY-na się LEK-cja.

Is zaczynać się always used with się?

For “an event starts (by itself),” yes: coś się zaczyna. Without się, the verb normally needs an object or an infinitive:

• Transitive: Nauczyciel zaczyna lekcję. (“The teacher starts the lesson.”)
• With an infinitive: Zaczyna padać. (“It’s starting to rain.”)

How do I ask “When does the lesson start?” or “What time does it start?”

• “When does the lesson start?” → Kiedy zaczyna się lekcja?
• “What time does it start?” → O której zaczyna się lekcja? You can also use the perfective for a one-time future: Kiedy zacznie się lekcja?

How do I say it in the past or negative?

• Past (feminine subject): Lekcja się zaczęła. (“The lesson started.”)
• Negative present: Lekcja jeszcze się nie zaczyna. (“The lesson isn’t starting yet.”)
• Negative past: Lekcja jeszcze się nie zaczęła. (“The lesson hasn’t started yet.”)

Is there a more formal or alternative verb to zaczynać (się)?

Yes, rozpoczynać (się) / rozpocząć (się) are more formal/elevated:

• Zaraz rozpocznie się lekcja. = “The lesson will begin shortly.” In casual speech, zaczynać (się) is perfectly fine.

Does lekcja always mean “class”? Any false friends?

• Lekcja is typically a school “lesson/class” (one period). At university, a “lecture” is usually wykład, and “classes” in general can be zajęcia.
• Don’t confuse lekcja with klasa; klasa means a classroom, a grade/year in school, or a social/class category.

Can I drop the noun and just say Zaraz się zaczyna?

Yes. That means “It’s about to start,” with the subject understood from context (e.g., a meeting, film, lesson). It’s common in conversation. Without context, it’s vague but natural.