Forming regular adverbs ending in -mente in Spanish

Look at these sentences using adverbs:

Ellas son lentas: caminan lentamente.They are slow: they walk slowly.

Los coches son rápidos: van rápidamente.Cars are fast: they go quickly.

Ellos duermen plácidamente.They sleep placidly.

Regular adverbs in Spanish

In English you add -ly. Here's how you form regular adverbs in Spanish:

- Take the feminine form of the adjective.
- Add -mente at the end

Note that sometimes the feminine and masculine forms are the same: in that case, use the adjective as it is:

Finalmente voy a ser médico.I'm finally going to be a doctor.

Puedes hacer los ejercicios fácilmente.You can do the exercises easily.

Nos atienden amablemente.They serve us kindly.

Debes atar los cordones fuertemente.You must tie your laces tightly.

Ustedes deben tirar suavemente.You must pull gently.

Important note on accents in regular adverbs in Spanish:

If the adjective has a written accent, when forming the regular adverb ending in -mente, you need to keep the written accent.

For example:

rápido - rápidamente

quick - quickly

fácil - fácilmente

easy - easily

cómodo - cómodamente

comfortable - comfortably

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

Finalmente voy a ser médico.I'm finally going to be a doctor.
Puedes hacer los ejercicios fácilmente.You can do the exercises easily.
Nos atienden amablemente.They serve us kindly.
Vosotros vivís felizmente.You live happily.
Los coches son rápidos: van rápidamente.Cars are fast: they go quickly.
Ellas son lentas: caminan lentamente.They are slow: they walk slowly.
Ellos duermen plácidamente.They sleep placidly.
Debes atar los cordones fuertemente.You must tie your laces tightly.
Ustedes deben tirar suavemente.You must pull gently.
Thinking...