Also means
really
Usage Note
tatsächlich is built from die Tatsache ('the fact') and means 'actual' as an adjective or 'really/in fact' as an adverb expressing mild surprise: Tatsächlich? ('Really?'). Beware the false friend: it does not mean 'actually' in the sense of 'currently', which is eigentlich or zurzeit.
Examples
"Das ist tatsächlich passiert."
Natural Translation
That really happened.
Literal Translation
That is really happened.

Free starter pack
Building your German vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore German by topic