actually

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæk.t͡ʃʊ.ə.li/, /ˈæk.t͡ʃə.li/, /ˈæk.ʃʊ.ə.li/, /ˈæk.ʃə.li/ (UK, nonstandard) IPA(key): /ˈæt͡ʃ.u.li/, /ˈæt͡ʃ.ə.li/, /ˈat͡ʃ.li/ (General American, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈæk.t͡ʃ(u.)(ə.)li/, /ˈæk.ʃ(u.)(ə.)li/ Rhymes: -ækt͡ʃʊəli === Etymology 1 === From Middle English actually, actuelly, equivalent to actual +‎ -ly. ==== Adverb ==== actually (not comparable) (modal) In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively. (obsolete) Actively. (obsolete or non-native speakers' English) Currently; at the time. ===== Usage notes ===== In other European languages, cognates of actually mean "now" or "currently"; (e.g., Portuguese "atualmente", Spanish "actualmente", French "actuellement", German "aktuell", Italian "attualmente", Czech "aktuálně"), making it a false friend. This leads many non-native speakers of English to use "actually" when they mean "now" or "currently". Some commentators have: remarked upon the irony that this qualifier of veracity often introduces an utter lie; and, noted that in many cases, actually functions as little more than a vacuous emphatic utterance. In practice, actually and its synonyms are often used to insinuate that the following is either unusual or contrary to a norm or preceding assumption, or to merely preface an overconfident opinion contrasting a previous statement or norm (as per 'vacuous emphasis' note above). This is actually a really beautiful song. (contrasting opinion) Actually, I'm not from France – I'm from Switzerland. (contrary from assumption) At the check-out, the cashier actually greeted me for once. (contrary from norm) ===== Alternative forms ===== actially (nonstandard) ackshually, ackshully, akshually, akshully, ackshly, akshly (eye dialect) ===== Synonyms ===== (in act or in fact): as a matter of fact, in reality, literally, really, truthfully; see also Thesaurus:actually ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === A calque of Tagalog talaga. ==== Interjection ==== actually (Philippines, informal) Indicating affirmation, agreement. A: That was a pretty good movie. B: Actually! Synonym: really (US) === References === == Middle English == === Alternative forms === actuali, actualy, actuelly === Etymology === From actual +‎ -ly (adverbial). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌaktiu̯ˈa(l)liː/, /ˈaktiu̯aliː/, /ˌaktiu̯ˈɛːliː/, /ˈaktiu̯ɛliː/ === Adverb === actually (Late Middle English) actually, truly (rare) actively ==== Descendants ==== English: actually Scots: ackwally, akwelly, ac'ually, actwally, actiwally ==== References ==== “actūā̆l(l)ī, -ē̆l(l)ī, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. == Scots == === Adverb === actually actually === References === Eagle, Andy, ed. (2016) The Online Scots Dictionary, Scots Online.