Given that an adverb can be created easily from a corresponding adjective, it is difficult to cover a vast number of adverbs in the limited space of this page.
Moreover, there are often multiple adverbs that convey a similar meaning. Here are some examples:
1. To say “certainly” or “surely,” you could use one of the following options: “ciertamente,” “seguramente,” “claro,” “por supuesto,” or even “sin duda” (undoubtedly).
2. To say “perhaps” or “maybe,” you could use: “tal vez,” “quizás,” “quizá,” or “a lo mejor.”
3. To say “really,” “truly,” or “actually,” you could use: “realmente,” “verdaderamente,” “de verdad,” or “en realidad.” Remember that “actualmente,” in Spanish, means “currently,” not “actually.”
4. To say “finally” you could use: “finalmente,” “al final,” “por fin,” “al fin,” or “por último.”[1]
In this section, we list some of the most common adverbs and adverbial phrases. You will learn more adverbs as you practice Spanish by reading, listening, and understanding the general rules explained in this lesson.
Adverbs of Place
| cerca | near | lejos | far |
| delante | in front | detrás atrás | behind |
| dentro adentro | inside | fuera afuera | outside |
| adelante | ahead | alrededor | around |
| en ninguna parte | nowhere | a bordo | on board |
| en todas partes | everywhere | en casa | at home |
Adverbs of Time
| pronto | soon | luego más tarde | later |
| temprano | early | tarde | late |
| antes | before | después | after |
| siempre | always | nunca jamás | never |
| a menudo muchas veces | often | de repente | suddenly |
| usualmente | usually | entonces | then |
| brevemente | briefly | frecuentemente con frecuencia | frequently |
| al principio | in the beginning | al final | in the end |
| todos los días cada día | every day | día por medio cada otro día | every other day |
| a corto plazo | in the short term | a largo plazo | in the long term |
| a tiempo | on time | mientras tanto entretanto | meanwhile |
| inmediatamente de inmediato | immediately | enseguida | right away immediately |
| anteanoche | the night before last | diariamente a diario | daily |
| semanalmente | weekly | mensualmente | monthly |
Adverbs of Quantity
| muy | very | mucho | a lot |
| demasiado | too much | poco | a little |
| más | more | menos | less |
| tanto | so much | bastante | enough |
| casi | almost | para nada | not at all |
Adverbs of Manner
| como | as like | así | like this |
| juntos | together | separadamente por separado | separately |
| poco a poco | little by little | paso a paso | step by step |
| deprisa | quickly in a hurry | apenas | barely hardly |
| seriamente en serio | seriously | alto en voz alta | loudly |
| además | moreover | cara a cara | face to face |
| afortunadamente | fortunately | desafortunadamente | unfortunately |
| por suerte | luckily | por desgracia desgraciadamente | unfortunately |
Adverbial Expressions
| de buena gana | willingly | de mala gana | unwillingly |
| a sabiendas | knowingly | a la moda | fashionably |
| de memoria | by heart | a pie | on foot |
| en camino | on the way | en el exterior[2] | overseas |
[1] There are some differences between these expressions, all meaning “finally”:
- “por último” means “lastly” (in a list or order).
- “por fin” and “al fin” mean “at last” (often regarding something that is hoped for).
- “finalmente” and “al final” (the former is more formal) can mean “lastly” (in a list or order) or “in the end” (not necessarily regarding something that is hoped for).
[2] The expression “en el exterior” can also mean “outside” or “outdoors.”
Quiz: Adverbs in Spanish
Other lessons in Level III:
Level III – Elementary
3. The Verb “to Know”: “Saber” vs. “Conocer”
4. Indefinite Adjectives & Pronouns
7. Special Uses of “Haber” & “Tener”
8. Telling Time & Describing The Weather
9.1. The Adverbs “Tan,” “Solo,” “También,” “Tampoco,” “Vez,” and “Veces”
