Adverb Formation: Creating -mente Adverbs
Most Spanish adverbs add -mente (like English "-ly") to the feminine form of the adjective: rápida → rápidamente (quickly), fácil → fácilmente (easily).
The rule at a glance
lentoadjective→lentafeminine+-menteending=lentamenteslowly
-o/-a adjectives
rápido → rápidamente
quick → quickly
Trabajan rápidamente en el proyecto
They work quickly on the project
-e or consonant
fácil → fácilmente
easy → easily
Voy frecuentemente al gimnasio
I go to the gym frequently
Irregular
bueno → bien
good → well
Habla español muy bien
He speaks Spanish very well
- Accents stay where they were: rápidamente, fácilmente, comúnmente.
- Two or more in a row: only the last takes -mente: clara, lenta y cuidadosamente.
Forms
Most Spanish adverbs are made by adding -mente to an adjective, much like "-ly" in English. Adverbs never change for gender or number.
Adjectives ending in -o/-a
These adjectives have a masculine and a feminine form (see gender). Use the feminine form and add -mente.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| Masculine | Feminine | Adverb | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rápido | rápida | rápidamente | quickly |
| lento | lenta | lentamente | slowly |
| claro | clara | claramente | clearly |
| exacto | exacta | exactamente | exactly |
| completo | completa | completamente | completely |
| directo | directa | directamente | directly |
Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant
These have one form for both genders, so add -mente directly. If the adjective has a written accent, it keeps it; -mente never adds a new one.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| Adjective | Ends in | Adverb | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| fácil | consonant | fácilmente | easily |
| difícil | consonant | difícilmente | hardly, with difficulty |
| normal | consonant | normalmente | normally |
| frecuente | -e | frecuentemente | frequently |
| reciente | -e | recientemente | recently |
| simple | -e | simplemente | simply |
Common adverbs that don't use -mente
Some very common adverbs are irregular. Mejor and peor are also the comparative forms.
| Adverb | English | Related adjective |
|---|---|---|
| bien | well | bueno (good) |
| mal | badly | malo (bad) |
| mejor | better | bueno (good) |
| peor | worse | malo (bad) |
| mucho | a lot, much | mucho (much) |
| poco | little, not much | poco (little) |
| más | more | - |
| menos | less | - |
When to use it
1. How something is done
Camina lentamente por el parque – He walks slowly through the park
Habla claramente para que entiendan – She speaks clearly so they understand
Conduce cuidadosamente bajo la lluvia – He drives carefully in the rain
2. How often or when
Recientemente compré un coche – I recently bought a car
Normalmente desayuno a las ocho – I normally have breakfast at eight
Raramente como comida rápida – I rarely eat fast food
3. Where the adverb goes
Usually after the verb. Before the verb it adds emphasis, and at the start of the sentence (with a comma) it comments on the whole sentence.
After the verb: Habla claramente – He speaks clearly
Before the verb: Probablemente lloverá mañana – It will probably rain tomorrow
At the start: Afortunadamente, llegamos a tiempo – Fortunately, we arrived on time
4. Two or more adverbs together
Only the last one takes -mente; the others keep the feminine adjective form.
Habla clara, lenta y cuidadosamente – She speaks clearly, slowly and carefully
Common mistakes
Using the masculine form
Not this (incorrect): rápidomente
But this (correct): rápidamente – quickly. Always use the feminine form of -o/-a adjectives: rápida + mente.
Bueno for "well"
Not this (incorrect): Habla español muy bueno.
But this (correct): Habla español muy bien. – He speaks Spanish very well. Bueno is an adjective (good); the adverb "well" is bien, and it never takes -mente.
Actualmente for "actually"
Not this (incorrect): Actualmente, no me gusta. (meaning "actually")
But this (correct): En realidad, no me gusta. – Actually, I don't like it. Actualmente is a false friend: it means "currently" (Actualmente vivo en Madrid). For "actually" use en realidad, de hecho or realmente.
Quick check
8 questions1. How do you form the adverb from 'rápido' (fast)?
Use the feminine form 'rápida' + '-mente' = rápidamente. The accent is preserved.
2. How do you form the adverb from 'fácil' (easy)?
Adjectives that don't change for gender (like 'fácil') add -mente directly: fácilmente.
3. What's the correct way to say 'She speaks clearly, slowly, and carefully'?
With multiple -mente adverbs in sequence, only the last one gets -mente: clara, lenta y cuidadosamente.
4. Which is the correct adverb for 'well'?
'Bien' (well) is an irregular adverb that doesn't use -mente.
5. What does 'actualmente' mean?
'Actualmente' is a false friend! It means 'currently', not 'actually'. For 'actually' use 'en realidad' or 'de hecho'.
6. How do you say 'He drives carefully'?
From 'cuidadoso' use the feminine 'cuidadosa' + -mente = cuidadosamente.
7. What's the adverb for 'frecuente' (frequent)?
For adjectives ending in -e (like frecuente), add -mente directly: frecuentemente.
8. Which sentence has correct adverb usage?
Adverbs never change for gender or number - 'rápidamente' stays the same in all cases.
Test your understanding of -mente adverb formation:
Going further
Why -mente takes the feminine, 12 common -mente adverbs, and adverbs that never change
Why the feminine form?
The suffix comes from Latin mente (ablative of mens, "mind"), which is feminine. An adverb was literally the feminine adjective + "mente": "with a quick mind". That is also why each part keeps its own accent.
Adverbs never change
Él habla rápidamente – He speaks quickly
Ella habla rápidamente – She speaks quickly
Ellos hablan rápidamente – They speak quickly
Repeating -mente
Habla claramente, lentamente y cuidadosamente is grammatical but sounds heavy; prefer clara, lenta y cuidadosamente.
Common -mente adverbs to know
| Adverb | English |
|---|---|
| absolutamente | absolutely |
| actualmente | currently |
| completamente | completely |
| constantemente | constantly |
| especialmente | especially |
| exactamente | exactly |
| finalmente | finally |
| generalmente | generally |
| naturalmente | naturally |
| perfectamente | perfectly |
| realmente | really |
| totalmente | totally |