As in all languages Quenya has 2 types of adverbs:

  • basic adverbs
  • adverbs derived from adjectives


The basic adverbs are separate words that aren't derived from another word, e.g.

  • `Cw# amba "up, upwards"
  • `Cw$ ambë "more"
  • `Cw$j# ambela "further still beyond"
  • `CzD aqua "full, completely"
  • `C61E arta "etc., et cetera" (lit. and-(and also, then))"
  • 8~B "now"

There are consequently no rules on how to form them.


To make an adjective into an adverb, we use following rules:

An adjective on \`C -a gets the ending \yR -
  • `C2# anda "long" → `C2$yR andavë "longly"
  • 1UjaD tulca "firm" → 1UjaDyR tulcavë "firmly"
  • 8lDj# saila "wise" → 8lDj#yR sailavë "wisely"


In an adjective on \`V -ë this letter is replaced by \`ByR -ivë:
  • t^7R morë "black" → t^7TyR morivë "blackly"
  • 5%2$ nindë "thin" → 5%2%yR nindivë "thinly"
  • t&,R mussë "soft" → t&,GyR mussivë "softly"


The ending \yR -vë descends from the ancient elvish root 'be' "as". Therefore, -n + -be = \w$ -mbë:
  • eG7T5 firin "dead" → eG7Tw$ firimbë "deadly"
  • 1R7R5 teren "slender" → 1R7Rw$ terembë "slenderly"


The following adjective has an irregular adverb:

  • t~C7E mára "good" → yE2$ vandë "well"



>> Neo-Quenya >> Adverbs