What it's NOT
actually does NOT translate to actualmente.
To say "actualmente" in English, use currently / nowadays.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
actually
Does NOT mean actualmente
It means in reality / in fact
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
actually means in reality / in fact.
Why it's confused
"Actually" comes from the same Latin root as "actual" and inherited the sense of "in reality, truly." Spanish "actualmente" took on the meaning of "right now, these days." Each language kept a different nuance of the original word.
How it's pronounced
actuallyÁK-chu-a-li
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Examples of correct use
English
Actually, I prefer tea, not coffee.
Spanish
En realidad prefiero el té, no el café.
English
It looks hard, but it's actually easy.
Spanish
Parece difícil, pero en realidad es fácil.
A trick to remember it
Actually = "the truth is that...". If you mean Spanish "actualmente" (these days), use "nowadays" or "currently".
Mini quiz
How do you say Spanish "actualmente" (these days) in English?
Frequently asked questions
What does "actually" mean in English?
"Actually" means "in reality / in fact". It looks a lot like "actualmente", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "actualmente" in English?
To say "actualmente" in English, use "currently / nowadays". If you use "actually" instead, you would actually be saying "in reality / in fact".
Do "actually" and "actualmente" mean the same thing?
"Actually" comes from the same Latin root as "actual" and inherited the sense of "in reality, truly." Spanish "actualmente" took on the meaning of "right now, these days." Each language kept a different nuance of the original word.
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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