the article is dedicated to the study of stereotypical representations of beginnings in Russian proverbs. Methods of semantic and linguocultural analysis were used in the analysis of the content of the paremias. The importance of starting an action and any undertaking in a person's life is undeniable, which is clearly confirmed both by the significant number of proverbs reflecting thoughts about beginnings and by the diversity of aspects noted in them. The material selected from basic dictionaries of proverbs shows that first and foremost, ideas about beginnings pertain to being engaged in work – the most important sphere of activity. This is precisely what we focused on in this work. The characteristics of starting work are examined from various perspectives. Proverbs verbalize attitudes that emphasize the importance of actively beginning work, the difficulty of the first step, the necessity of approaching the work seriously, not abandoning it halfway, and carrying it through to the intended result, by which the success of the completed work is evaluated. On the other hand, proverbs also "speak" of a good beginning, which, however, does not guarantee a successful conclusion. As a result of the analysis, a fairly detailed typology of the ideas and representations expressed in proverbs is constructed, revealing the specifics of the mentality and value system of the Russian people – for example, the recognition of the inseparable connection between the beginning and the end, the contradictory nature of proverbs allowing for the expression of opposing meanings, and so on.