This is the 920th most frequent Bulgarian word.
започнали
"Започнали" means "started" or "have started" in English.
The word 'започнали' is a past perfect form used to illustrate an action (to start) completed in the past prior to another state.
Те са започнали проекта миналата седмица.
They started the project last week.
The word 'започнали' here functions as a past perfect verb form indicating an action commenced before another past action/event.
Много ученици бяха започнали да учат български преди пандемията.
Many students had started learning Bulgarian before the pandemic.
In this sentence, 'започнали' serves to indicate the completion of an initial action, setting the context for the following result.