eigentlich
A1#296Hear it
adverb
- 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 truthwith that description being the more pertinent one
- technically, strictly speaking, officiallywith that description being secondary to some de-facto practice
- Used to introduce a question primarily driven by curiosity that might only be loosely if at all connected to the previous topic
adjective
- actual, real, properas opposed to something secondary serving as a distraction or impostor
Forms
Declension
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | eigentlicher | eigentliche | eigentliches | eigentliche |
| genitive | eigentlichen | eigentlicher | eigentlichen | eigentlicher |
| dative | eigentlichem | eigentlicher | eigentlichem | eigentlichen |
| accusative | eigentlichen | eigentliche | eigentliches | eigentliche |
Degrees
| comparative | eigentlicher |
|---|---|
| superlative | am eigentlichsten |
More forms are in the app.
Used in the library
- Eigentlich heißt er Harry.His real name is Harry.A1Heinrich Heine aus Düsseldorf — Heinrich Heine from Düsseldorf
- Wer darf hier eigentlich bestimmen?Who actually gets to decide here?A1Wer darf bestimmen? (1) — Who gets to decide? (1) (A1)
- „Wo ist eigentlich der Schlüssel für den Keller?""Where's the key to the cellar, actually?"A1Der Umzug — Moving house (A1)
- „Wovon lebst du eigentlich?", frage ich."What do you actually live on?" I ask.A1Ein Tag in Hamburg — A day in Hamburg (A1)
Other ways to say it
- tatsächlichactual, real, factual
- ursprünglichoriginal, initial, first; original, authentic, genuine, unadulterated
Refusing and disagreeing
- eigentlich nichtnot reallyA no that leaves the door open.