ive just started out with playing guitar and im trying to learn a few chords which i can follow ok, but i was just wondering is it supposed to really hurt your fingers to start off with and does it take alot of practise to break your fingers into it?

...to "help" toughen tender finger tips, try soaking them in common Hydrogen-Peroxide solution for about 1/2 hr each night...in about a week they'll become much tougher.

But why to use chemistry?
Anybody can suffer a little pain. Trust me, it's not that bad.

Yes it's supposed to hurt.  You'll build calluses in time (what's frustrating is building them then seeing them fall off!) ...cause that means you have to do the whole process again.

...but yeah, it'll hurt less on the fingers over time, just keep playing.  One of the best advice from guitar players: 15 minutes a day is better than an hour every other day.