Estamos a punto de empezar otra ronda.

It means to be about to do something.

So:

• Estamos a punto de empezar = We are about to start

This is a very common Spanish structure:

• Estoy a punto de salir = I’m about to leave
• Están a punto de llegar = They’re about to arrive

Even though punto literally means point, the whole expression is idiomatic, so it is best learned as one chunk: estar a punto de + verb.

Because Spanish uses estar for temporary states, situations, or conditions, and this expression specifically is:

• estar a punto de + infinitive

You cannot use ser here.

So:

• Estamos a punto de empezar = correct
• Somos a punto de empezar = incorrect

This is just the standard fixed expression.

Because the full pattern is:

• estar a punto de + infinitive

So the de is required before the verb.

Examples:

• Estoy a punto de comer
• Está a punto de llamarte
• Estamos a punto de empezar

You should think of it as one complete structure, not as separate words you can freely rearrange.

Because after estar a punto de, Spanish uses an infinitive.

So the structure is:

• estar (conjugated)
• a punto de
• infinitive verb

That is why you get:

• Estamos a punto de empezar

and not:

• Estamos a punto de empezamos
• Estamos a punto de empieza

Only the first verb, estar, is conjugated. The second verb stays in the infinitive.

Yes. Empezar and comenzar both mean to start / to begin.

So you could also say:

• Estamos a punto de comenzar otra ronda

This sounds natural too. In everyday speech, empezar is often a little more common, but both are perfectly normal.

Otra means another.

It agrees with ronda, which is a feminine singular noun:

• otra ronda = another round

Compare:

• otro juego = another game
• otra ronda = another round

So otra is feminine because ronda is feminine.

In Spanish, otro / otra usually does not take an indefinite article before it when it means another.

So:

• otra ronda = another round

Not:

• una otra ronda = incorrect in normal Spanish

This is different from English, where another historically comes from an + other, but in modern Spanish you simply say otra ronda.

Ronda usually means round, but the exact meaning depends on context.

It could refer to:

• a round in a game
• a round of drinks
• another cycle or turn in an activity
• another round of discussion or questions

So otra ronda is flexible. The sentence itself does not specify the exact situation; the context would tell you what kind of round it is.

Yes. In fact, Spanish normally does leave it out.

• Estamos a punto de empezar otra ronda = normal
• Nosotros estamos a punto de empezar otra ronda = also correct, but more emphatic

Because estamos already tells you the subject is we, Spanish does not need the pronoun unless you want contrast or emphasis.

For example:

• Nosotros estamos a punto de empezar, pero ellos no.
  We are about to start, but they aren’t.

Yes. Estamos is present tense, but the expression estar a punto de + infinitive refers to the immediate future.

So it literally uses the present, but the meaning is:

• We’re just about to start
• We’re going to start very soon

This is very common in Spanish and English alike.

A natural Spain Spanish pronunciation would sound roughly like:

• es-TA-mos a PUN-to de em-pe-THAR O-tra RON-da

A few useful notes for Spain Spanish:

• z in empezar is pronounced like the th in think in most of Spain
• ronda has a tapped r
• words flow together smoothly, especially estamos a punto de

If you are not using Spain pronunciation, saying empezar with an s sound is also completely understandable in Latin American Spanish.

Yes, usually it means something is going to happen very soon or is on the verge of happening.

Examples:

• Estoy a punto de dormirme = I’m about to fall asleep
• Está a punto de llover = It’s about to rain
• Estamos a punto de empezar otra ronda = We’re about to start another round

So this expression suggests immediacy, not just a general future plan.

Not exactly. It is closer to We are about to start another round than We are ready to start another round.

• a punto de empezar focuses on the action happening very soon
• listos para empezar focuses on being ready/prepared

So compare:

• Estamos a punto de empezar otra ronda = We’re about to start another round
• Estamos listos para empezar otra ronda = We’re ready to start another round

Sometimes the ideas overlap in real situations, but the grammar expresses different things.