eigentlich

== German == === Alternative forms === eigtl. (abbreviation) eig (text messaging) einklich (eye dialect) === Etymology === Inherited from Middle High German eigenlīche, equivalent to eigen +‎ -lich. Compare Dutch eigenlijk. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈaɪ̯ɡəntlɪç/, [ˈʔaɪ̯ɡ(ə)ntlɪç], [ˈʔaɪ̯(ɡ)ŋ̍tlɪç] (often) IPA(key): /ˈaɪ̯ŋ(k)lɪç/, /ˈaɪ̯ntlɪç/, /ˈaɪ̯ŋɪç/ (very rapid speech) IPA(key): /ˈaŋ(ɪ)ç/ === Adverb === eigentlich Used to frame a statement as being a more (formally) truthful description of the situation in comparison to another claim or assumption really, actually, in truth (with that description being the more pertinent one) technically, strictly speaking, officially (with that description being secondary to some de-facto practice) ==== Usage notes ==== The sense of "technically" primarily occurs in the context of rules, expectations and other normative statements, typically in combination with an explicitly contrasting statement. ==== Related terms ==== eigen === Adjective === eigentlich (strong nominative masculine singular eigentlicher, comparative eigentlicher, superlative am eigentlichsten) actual, real, proper (as opposed to something secondary serving as a distraction or impostor) Synonyms: tatsächlich, ursprünglich ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “eigentlich” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “eigentlich” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon “eigentlich” in Duden online