During Meiosis I, the chromosomes start pairing at
Zygotene
During zygotene or zygonema of meiotic prophase I, the chromosomes become shorter and thicker. The homologous chromosomes come to lie side-by-side in pairs. This pairing of homologous chromosomes is known as synapsis or syndesis. A pair of homologous chromosomes lying together is called a bivalent.