Spanish Adverbs
Overview
Adverbs are words used to modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. An adverb can give information about time, place, manner, or number and answer questions such as How?, How long?, How often, When? and wher?, among others.
Unlike Spanish adjectives, Spanish adverbs are invariable, which is a fancy way to say they do not change according to the gender or number. This is because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and verbs, not nouns.
Adverb Placement
An adverb usually comes after the verb it modifies.
Example: Cantas bien. (You sing well.)
An adverb always comes before the adjective it modifies.
Example: Eres muy alto. (You're very tall.)
An adverb always comes before the adverb it modifies.
Example: Hablas demasiado rápido. (You speak too quickly.)
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs can be categorized into several types, including adverbs of place, adverbs of time, adverbs of quantity, and adverbs of manner.
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place answer questions like wher? and give information on location.
List of Adverbs of Place
Spanish English Spanish English
aquí
here
acá
here
allí
there
allá
there
cerca
near
lejos
far
delante
in front
detrás
behind
encima
on top
debajo
underneath
dentro
inside
fuera
outside
adelante
ahead
atrás
behind
arriba
up, above
abajo
down, below
adentro
inside
afuera
outside
Examples with Adverbs of Place
El templo está allá.
The temple is over there.
Aquí hay muchas flores.
There are lots of flowers here.
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of place answer questions like When? and How often? and are used to give information on time, duration, and frequency.
List of Adverbs of Time
Spanish English Spanish English
hoy
today
ahora
now
mañana
tomorrow
ayer
yesterday
anoche
last night
anteayer
the day before yesterday
anteanoche
the night before last
previamente
previously
recientemente
recently
actualmente
currently
brevemente
briefly
permanentemente
permanently
diariamente
daily
frecuentemente
frequently
todavía
still
ya
already
nunca
never
siempre
always
ocasionalmente
occasionally
semanalmente
weekly
Examples with Adverbs of Time
Llegaste tarde a clase.
You arrived to class late.
Todavía no ha comido sus guisantes.
He still hasn't eaten his peas.
Adverbs of Quantity or Degree
Adverbs of quantity or degree answer questions like How much?, or To what extent? and are used to give information on quantity, number, and degree.
List of Adverbs of Quantity or Degree
Spanish English Spanish English
muy
very
demasiado
too much
mucho
a lot
poco
a little
menos
less
más
more
tanto
so much
bastante
enough
algo
somewhat
nada
not at all
Examples with Adverbs of Quantity or Degree
Comí demasiado anoche.
I ate too much last night.
Estoy muy cansada.
I am very tired.
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner answer questions like How?, or In what way? and are used to give information on the way something is done.
List of Adverbs of Manner
Spanish English Spanish English
bien
well
mal
badly
mejor
better
peor
worse
rápido
fast, quickly
despacio
slowly
claramente
clearly
inteligentemente
intelligently
bonito
beautifully
cuidadosamente
carefully
alto
loudly
quieto
quietly
dulcemente
sweetly
estupendamente
stupendously
seriamente
seriously
voluntariamente
voluntarily
así
like this, this way
fácilmente
easily
Examples with Adverbs of Manner
Lo siento, pero así soy yo.
I'm sorry, that's the way I am.
Estoy bien, gracias.
I'm well, thank you.
Forming Adverbs
Simple Adverbs
Many adverbs can also be formed with adjectives by using the following formula.
feminine singular adjective + -mente (the Spanish equivalent of the English -ly)
lenta + -mente = lentamente (slowly)
Caminaba lentamente.
He was walking slowly.
fácil + -mente = fácilmente (easily)
Contesté las preguntas fácilmente.
I answered the questions easily.
rápida + -mente = rápidamente (quickly)
Corrí rápidamente para escaparme de los perros.
I ran quickly to escape from the dogs.
More on Manner
Manner can frequently be expressed using adverbial expressions that use the following formulas.
de manera + adjective
de modo + adjective
con + noun
Me besó de manera dulce.
He kissed me sweetly.
Hice el examen de manera fácil.
I completed the exam easily.
Corrí de modo rápido para escaparme de los perros.
I ran quickly to escape from the dogs.
Escribe de modo romántico para ganar su corazón.
I wrote romantically to win her heart.
Me besó con dulzura.
He kissed me sweetly.
Hice el examen con facilidad.
I completed the exam easily.
Adverbial expressions
Below you will find some more common Spanish adverbial expressions.
Spanish English Spanish English
a ciegas
blindly
a veces
sometimes
al final
in the end
a tiempo
on time
de día
during the day
de noche
at night
de verdad
really, truly
por fin
finally
sin cuidado
carelessly
con cuidado
carefully
a la perfección
perfectly
a la vez
at the same time
al principio
in the beginning
de una vez por todas
once and for all
a diario
daily
a menudo
often
de inmediato
immediately
de nuevo
once again
en serio
really, seriously
en realidad
really
a diestra y siniestra
all over the place
a escondidas
secretly
al anochecer
at dusk/at sunset
al amanecer
at dawn
a oscuras
in the dark
a la moda
fashionably
en casa
at home
con frecuencia
frequently
con alegría
happily
con tristeza
sadly
de buena gana
willingly
de mala gana
unwillingly
de pronto
suddenly
de repente
suddenly
por desgracia
unfortunately
por suerte
luckily
de memoria
by heart
de prisa
quickly
