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-mente. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-mente, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-mente in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-mente you have here. The definition of the word
-mente will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-mente, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Asturian
Etymology
From Latin mente.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-mente (adverb-forming suffix)
- Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
Derived terms
Galician
Etymology
From Old Galician-Portuguese -mente, from Latin mente.
Suffix
-mente (adverb-forming suffix)
- Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
Derived terms
Interlingua
Etymology
From Spanish -mente and other Romance descendants of Latin mente.
Suffix
-mente
- Attaches to an adjective to form the corresponding adverb.
- physicamente (“physically”)
Usage notes
After a final -c the vowel -a- is inserted, e.g. physicamente (note use of physica rather than physic; *physicmente would be incorrect)
Derived terms
Italian
Etymology
Latin mente.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-mente
- Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
Usage notes
- Because the suffix originates as a reinterpretation of the Latin feminine noun form mente in ablatival locutions ; if the root adjective ends in -o, in formation of the adverb it is employed in its feminine singular form.
- Examples:
- chiara (“clear”) + -mente → chiaramente (“clearly”)
- fisica (“physical”) + -mente → fisicamente (“physically”)
- stupida (“stupid”, “foolish”) + -mente → stupidamente (“stupidly”, “foolishly”)
- Adjectives ending in -e, not distinguishing masculine and feminine forms, simply have the suffix attached to the singular form.
- Example:
- grande (“great”) + -mente → grandemente (“greatly”)
- When the root adjective ends in -le, -lo, -re or -ro, the suffix is attached directly to the consonant and the final vowel of the adjective is dropped.
- Examples:
- speciale (“special”) + -mente → specialmente (“especially”, “particularly”)
- celere (“swift”) + -mente → celermente (“swiftly”)
- Terms derived with this suffix are invariably stressed on the penultimate.
Derived terms
Neapolitan
Etymology
From Latin mente.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-mente
Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
Portuguese
Etymology
From Old Galician-Portuguese -mente, from Latin mente.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-mente
- Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
Usage notes
-mente is always added to the feminine form of the adjective, e.g. fisicamente (note use of física rather than físico; *fisicomente would be incorrect)
-mente can be dropped from adverbs other than the last one in a sequence:
Ele escrevia rápida e freneticamente.- He was writing quickly and frenetically.
Derived terms
Related terms
Spanish
Etymology
From Old Spanish -mente/-miente/-mientre, from Latin mente.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmente/ (additionally stressing the syllable of the underlying adjective)
- Rhymes: -ente
- Syllabification: -men‧te
Suffix
-mente (adverb-forming suffix)
- Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
- normal (“normal”) + -mente → normalmente (“normally, usually”)
- física (“physical”) + -mente → físicamente (“physically”)
- común (“common”) + -mente → comúnmente (“commonly”)
- loca (“crazy”) + -mente → locamente (“crazily”)
Usage notes
- Adverbs in -mente are formed from the feminine singular forms of adjectives. For example, nuevamente (“newly”) is formed from nueva (“new”), and comúnmente (“commonly”) is formed from común (“common”).
- Not all words ending in <-mente> are adverbs formed with this suffix. For example, vehemente and demente are both adjectives. In fact, adverb vehementemente does exist.
- If the adjective is written with an accent, then the adverb with -mente is written with an accent in the same place; hence comúnmente, rápidamente, and so on. Conversely, if the adjective is written without an accent, then the adverb with -mente is also written without an accent; hence lentamente, nuevamente, and so on.
- In a string of adverbs connected with a conjunction, -mente may be omitted from all but the last. "Vaga, rápida y descuidadamente"
Derived terms
Further reading