What it's NOT
actual does NOT translate to actual (de ahora).
To say "actual (de ahora)" in English, use current / present.
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False cognate · False friend
actual
Does NOT mean actual (de ahora)
It means real / genuine
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
actual means real / genuine.
Why it's confused
In Latin, "actualis" meant "happening right now." Spanish kept that sense of present or current. English shifted it toward "real, genuine, true." Same root, different paths.
How it's pronounced
actualÁK-chual
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
The actual price was higher.
Spanish
El precio real era más alto.
English
What were his actual words?
Spanish
¿Cuáles fueron sus palabras exactas?
A trick to remember it
Actual = real/genuine. Spanish "actual" (current) = current/present. (Same pattern as "actually" = in reality.)
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"The actual number" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "actual" mean in English?
"Actual" means "real / genuine". It looks a lot like "actual", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "actual" in English?
To say "actual" in English, use "current / present". If you use "actual" instead, you would actually be saying "real / genuine".
Do "actual" and "actual" mean the same thing?
In Latin, "actualis" meant "happening right now." Spanish kept that sense of present or current. English shifted it toward "real, genuine, true." Same root, different paths.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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