-mente

Adverb Formation

Level 1

Add -mente to the feminine singular form of an adjective to create an adverb, similar to adding '-ly' in English.

How It Works

In Spanish, adverbs that describe how an action is done are often formed by adding the suffix -mente to an adjective. This is very similar to adding '-ly' to an adjective in English (e.g., quick → quickly).

The rule is simple: always use the feminine singular form of the adjective as the base.

Here’s how it works:

  • For adjectives ending in -o: Change the -o to an -a and then add -mente.
    Example: lento (slow) → lenta → lentamente (slowly)
  • For adjectives with the same masculine and feminine form, such as triste or fácil: Simply add -mente to the end.
    Example: triste (sad) → tristemente (sadly)
    Example: fácil (easy) → fácilmente (easily)

Important Note on Accents: If the original adjective has a written accent mark (a tilde), the adverb keeps it in the same place.
Example: rápido → rápidamente

Identify the Feminine Form, Not Just the Last Letter
Fácil and normal have the same form for both genders. Other consonant-ending adjectives can change, so a consonant alone is not the rule. Use the actual feminine singular base, and learn whether the resulting adverb is a usual word.

No Agreement in the Finished Adverb
Ella habla claramente and Ellos hablan claramente use the same adverb. The feminine base does not make it agree with the person doing the action.

Stress and Coordination
These adverbs retain stress on the adjective base and on -mente. The written accent follows the base: fácil → fácilmente, normal → normalmente. When coordinating two adverbs, -mente may appear only on the last: lenta y cuidadosamente (slowly and carefully). They can also describe frequency or the speaker’s assessment, as in normalmente or probablemente, rather than only manner.

Examples (5)

  1. Ella habla claramente.

    She speaks clearly.

    Word by Word: She speaks clearly.

    The adjective 'claro' becomes 'clara' (feminine) and then 'claramente'.

  2. El tren avanza lentamente.

    The train moves forward slowly.

    Word by Word: The train advances slowly.

    The adjective 'lento' becomes 'lenta' (feminine) and then 'lentamente'.

  3. Comprendí la lección fácilmente.

    I understood the lesson easily.

    Word by Word: I understood the lesson easily.

    Fácil has the same masculine and feminine form, so add -mente directly and preserve its written accent.

  4. Normalmente, desayuno a las ocho.

    Normally, I have breakfast at eight.

    Word by Word: Normally, I breakfast at the eight.

    Normal has the same masculine and feminine form; adding -mente gives normalmente.

  5. Él corre rápidamente.

    He runs quickly.

    Word by Word: He runs quickly.

    The adjective 'rápido' becomes 'rápida' (feminine) and then 'rápidamente'. The accent mark is kept.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -mente to the masculine form of an adjective instead of the feminine form.

    El profesor explica todo lentomente.
    El profesor explica todo lentamente.

    The suffix -mente must always be added to the feminine singular form of the adjective. Since 'lento' ends in -o, you must change it to the feminine form 'lenta' before adding -mente.

  • Forgetting to keep the accent mark from the original adjective.

    Puedes hacerlo facilmente.
    Puedes hacerlo fácilmente.

    If the original adjective has a written accent (tilde), the adverb must keep it. 'Fácil' has an accent, so the adverb is 'fácilmente'.

How It Connects

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

-menteLevel 1Adverb Formation

Learn This First

To form adverbs with the suffix -mente, you must first understand how Spanish adjectives change their endings to the feminine form (usually changing -o to -a), as this feminine form serves as the base for the adverb.

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Words in This Pattern

-mente