Adverbs in -mente
Turn adjectives into adverbs: rápido → rápidamente, fácil → fácilmente.
Part of the free A2 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
An adjective describes a noun (a slow train). An adverb describes a verb, saying how something is done (he drives slowly). English often adds -ly. Spanish adds -mente.
How to form them
- Take the feminine singular form of the adjective.
- Add -mente.
| Adjective | Feminine | Adverb |
|---|---|---|
| lento | lenta | lentamente (slowly) |
| tranquilo | tranquila | tranquilamente (calmly) |
| rápido | rápida | rápidamente (quickly) |
| fácil | fácil | fácilmente (easily) |
| feliz | feliz | felizmente (happily) |
| amable | amable | amablemente (kindly) |
Adjectives that are the same for both genders (fácil, feliz, amable, alegre) just add -mente.
- Hablé tranquilamente con el director.I spoke calmly with the director.
- Mi abuela camina lentamente por el parque.My grandmother walks slowly through the park.
The accent stays
If the adjective has a written accent, the adverb keeps it in the same place: rápido → rápidamente, fácil → fácilmente, cortés → cortésmente. These adverbs are pronounced with two stresses, one on the adjective and one on -men-.
- Encontramos el hotel fácilmente.We found the hotel easily.
Two adverbs in a row
When two -mente adverbs are joined by y or pero, only the last one keeps -mente. The first stays in the feminine form.
- El profesor habla lenta y claramente.The teacher speaks slowly and clearly.
Useful -mente adverbs
normalmente (usually), generalmente (generally), realmente (really), solamente (only), exactamente (exactly), finalmente (finally), perfectamente (perfectly), últimamente (lately), actualmente (currently).
- Normalmente ceno a las nueve.I usually have dinner at nine.
- Últimamente duermo muy mal.Lately I've been sleeping very badly.
Actualmente is a false friend: it means currently, at the moment, not actually. For actually, say en realidad.
- Actualmente vivo en Barcelona.At the moment I live in Barcelona.
Not every adverb ends in -mente
Bueno and malo have their own adverbs: bien (well) and mal (badly). Some adjectives work as adverbs in everyday speech without -mente: habla rápido, trabaja duro, habla claro.
Common mistakes
buenamentefor "well" → bien (buenamente exists, but means "as best one can"). Malamente exists but is colloquial; the normal word for "badly" is mal.rápidomente→ rápidamente. Use the feminine form before -mente.rapidamente→ rápidamente. Keep the adjective's accent.Actualmente, no lo séfor "Actually, I don't know" → En realidad, no lo sé. Actualmente means "currently".lentamente y claramente→ lenta y claramente. In a pair, only the last adverb takes -mente (the double form is not wrong, just heavy).
Practice
- Mi padre conduce muy _____ (cuidadoso).
Show the answer
cuidadosamente — Feminine cuidadosa + -mente.
- Abrió la carta _____ (lento).
Show the answer
lentamente
- Resolvimos el problema _____ (fácil).
Show the answer
fácilmente — Fácil + -mente. The accent of fácil stays in the adverb.
- La dependienta nos atendió _____ (amable).
Show the answer
amablemente — Amable is the same in both genders: just add -mente.