afortunadamente
ah-for-too-nah-dah-MEHN-teh
📝 In Action
Afortunadamente, llegamos a la estación justo antes de que el tren saliera.
A2Fortunately, we arrived at the station just before the train left.
Perdí las llaves en el parque, pero afortunadamente, un niño las encontró y las devolvió.
B1I lost the keys in the park, but luckily, a child found them and returned them.
El examen era muy difícil, afortunadamente, estudié toda la noche.
B2The test was very difficult; thankfully, I studied all night.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-mente' Adverb Pattern
This word is formed by adding the suffix '-mente' (which means 'in a [lucky] manner') to the feminine form of the adjective 'afortunado/a'. This pattern works for almost all Spanish adverbs.
Always Invariable
As an adverb, 'afortunadamente' always stays the same. It never changes to match the gender (masculine/feminine) or number (singular/plural) of the noun it relates to.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Adjective and Adverb
Mistake: "The weather was afortunada."
Correction: The weather was afortunado (adjective). Use 'afortunadamente' when describing *how* something happened: 'Afortunadamente, el clima mejoró.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Sentence Placement
Most Spanish adverbs ending in '-mente' are easiest to use when placed right at the beginning of the sentence, often followed by a comma, to set the tone for the rest of the thought.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: afortunadamente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'afortunadamente'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'afortunadamente' interchangeable with 'por suerte'?
Yes, absolutely! They mean the exact same thing ('fortunately' / 'by luck') and can be used in the same situations. 'Por suerte' is often slightly more informal or conversational.
How do I pronounce the '-mente' ending correctly?
In Spanish, the stress in these adverbs falls on the syllable *before* the '-mente' ending, which is 'NA' in 'afortunadamente.' The '-mente' part is usually pronounced quickly and evenly.