-mente

Adverbs in -mente

Level 3

To say how something is done, add -mente to the feminine form of the adjective: clara → claramente (clearly), lenta → lentamente (slowly).

How It Works

Feminine + -mente. Adjectives that change for gender use the feminine singular: lento → lentamente, claro → claramente, tranquilo → tranquilamente. Adjectives with one form for both genders add -mente directly: alegre → alegremente, feliz → felizmente, fácil → facilmente.

No written accent. Galician spelling treats the adverb as one word stressed on -men-, so the accent of the adjective disappears: rápida → rapidamente, fácil → facilmente, última → ultimamente, común → comunmente. This is a real difference from Spanish, which writes rápidamente.

Meaning. Most of these adverbs describe manner: Fala claramente (she speaks clearly). Others express time, frequency or attitude: ultimamente (lately), normalmente (usually), felizmente (fortunately).

Other adverbs. Not every adjective works this way in everyday speech: "well" is ben and "badly" is mal. Many adjectives can also be used directly as adverbs, as in Fala rápido (he talks fast).

Two adverbs together. When two adverbs in -mente are joined, only the last keeps -mente: see coordinated adverbs in -mente.

Examples (6)

  1. Explicouno todo moi claramente.

    She explained it all very clearly.

    Word by Word: Explained-it all very clearly.

  2. Rematei o traballo rapidamente.

    I finished the work quickly.

    Word by Word: Finished-I the work quickly.

    Rápida has an accent, but rapidamente does not.

  3. Podes chegar facilmente en autobús.

    You can easily get there by bus.

    Word by Word: Can-you arrive easily in bus.

  4. Ultimamente durmo moi mal.

    I have been sleeping very badly lately.

    Word by Word: Lately sleep-I very badly.

  5. Normalmente xantamos ás dúas.

    We usually have lunch at two.

    Word by Word: Usually lunch-we at-the two.

  6. Felizmente, ninguén se mancou.

    Fortunately, nobody got hurt.

    Word by Word: Fortunately, nobody themselves hurt.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the written accent.

    Rematei o traballo rápidamente.
    Rematei o traballo rapidamente.

    Galician adverbs in -mente never carry a written accent. Spanish keeps it, which is why this mistake is common.

  • Starting from the masculine form.

    Falou lentomente.
    Falou lentamente.

    The base of the adverb is the feminine form, lenta, so the adverb is lentamente.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-menteLevel 3Adverbs in -mente

Learn This First

Adverbs in -mente are built from an adjective's feminine form.

Words in This Pattern

-mente