Atualmente vs. Actually: Don’t Let This Portuguese False Friend Fool You
By Bruno Lopes · Brazilian Portuguese teacher
Host of I Speak Portuguese · Updated
Meet Bruno and the teaching teamThe quick difference
| Word or phrase | Typical meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| atualmente | currently; nowadays | Atualmente, moro em Brasília. |
| actually | in fact; to clarify or correct | “Actually, I live in Brasília.” |
| na verdade | actually; in fact | Na verdade, moro em Brasília. |
| de fato | in fact; indeed | Isso de fato acontece. |
Use atualmente for “currently”
Atualmente tells someone that a situation is true in the present or these days. It answers “when?” rather than correcting an earlier idea.
- Atualmente, estudo português todos os dias. — “I currently study Portuguese every day.”
- Ela trabalha atualmente em São Paulo. — “She currently works in São Paulo.”
- Atualmente, muita gente trabalha de casa. — “Nowadays, many people work from home.”
Depending on the sentence, hoje em dia (“these days”) or no momento (“at the moment”) may sound more natural.
Use na verdade to clarify or correct
When English actually means “to tell you the truth” or signals a correction, Brazilian Portuguese often uses na verdade.
- “Do you live in Rio?” — Na verdade, moro em Brasília. (“Actually, I live in Brasília.”)
- “Did you like the film?” — Na verdade, achei um pouco longo. (“Actually, I thought it was a little long.”)
De fato is another option for “in fact” or “indeed.” It can sound more formal or emphatic: Isso de fato aconteceu (“That did in fact happen”). Choose the phrase that fits your tone.
A simple way to remember it
If you can replace actually with “currently,” choose atualmente. If it introduces a correction or clarification, try na verdade.
“I actually live in Brazil now” can express either idea depending on context. For “I live in Brazil these days,” say Atualmente, moro no Brasil. To correct someone who thought you lived elsewhere, say Na verdade, moro no Brasil.
Quick practice
Choose atualmente or na verdade to complete each response. Then say the full sentence aloud.
- You are describing where you work these days: “___, trabalho em casa.”
- Someone thinks you are from São Paulo, and you want to correct them: “___, sou de Curitiba.”
Show suggested answers
- Atualmente, trabalho em casa.
- Na verdade, sou de Curitiba.
Keep noticing false friends
Spotting a false friend is easier when you hear the word in a sentence and notice what the speaker is doing. Watch Bruno’s short explanation above, then compare it with our guide to fingir and pretender. For more Brazilian Portuguese listening and daily practice, explore the Real Life Portuguese app or learn with our Brazilian teaching team.
Frequently asked questions
What does atualmente mean in Portuguese?
Atualmente means currently, at present, or nowadays. It describes what is true now or in the current period.
How do you say actually in Portuguese?
Na verdade is a common conversational translation of actually. De fato can mean in fact or indeed, and the best choice depends on the sentence.
Can atualmente ever mean actually?
Usually no. It is a false friend: the words look similar, but atualmente refers to time (currently), while English actually often introduces a correction or clarification.
