Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—ment-derived-from-the-feminine-form-of-an-adjective

Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the feminine form of an adjective

Most adverbs ending in -ment are formed from the feminine form of a corresponding adjective:

General rule

Adjective	Feminine	English	Adverb	English
affreux	affreuse	awful	affreusement	awfully
clair	claire	clear	clairement	clearly
distinct	distincte	distinct	distinctement	distinctly
doux	douce	gentle	doucement	gently
mou	molle	soft	mollement	softly
naturel	naturelle	natural	naturellement	naturally
public	publique	public	publiquement	publicly
professionnel	professionnelle	professional	professionnellement	professionally
sec	sèche	dry	sèchement	drily
sûr	sûre	sure	sûrement	surely
vif	vive	alive	vivement	lively

Exception:

Adjective	Feminine	English	Adverb	English
gentil	gentille	kind	gentiment	kindly

Although -ment corresponds broadly to English -ly, French is much less productive than English. Often English -ly adverbs must be translated by phrases.