Actually…

Actually is a false cognate that is often confused by both Portuguese speakers when using English and by English speakers when using Portuguese.

So, actually, the word “actually” in Portuguese would be em realidade or na verdade. For example:

Vamos ao cinema. Você quer ver esse filme de ação, né?

Na verdade, quero ver esse filme de romance.

Let’s go to the movies. You want to see that action movie, don’t you?

Actually, I want to see that romantic movie.

However, in Portuguese, atualmente, the literal translation of actually, means currently, lately or nowadays.

Atualmente estou trabalhando muito. I’ve been working a lot lately.

Atualmente ele é o gerente da loja. He’s currently the store manager.

Bruno Amorim 8 July 2008 at 11:59 am #

I’ve been reading your blog for some days and I like it very much. You’re very good in Portuguese and I learned a lot about English with your blog. Although, the best translation of “actually” is “na verdade”. “Em realidade” is not wrong at all, but is a bit unusual and even strange. Saying “Na verdade, quero ver esse filme de romance” sounds better than that with “em realidade”.
CyberMandrake 12 July 2008 at 8:07 pm #

Indeed I agree with Bruno. “Em realidade” sounds bible-ish
Carlon Williams 31 July 2008 at 3:09 pm #

i’m a portuguese learner and i’ve always had difficulty with this word because when i hear the word “atualmente” the obvious thing i do is translate it as actually, but in the context of the sentence it never makes sense.

so thank you very much your blog has been i great help

and lol to the cybermandrake’s new word bible-ish LOL. very good!
jorge amado 22 February 2009 at 4:25 am #

Em realidade is not used at all, but na realidade is often used here.