Dictionary / Actually
How to Say "Actually" in French
En fait
/ɑ̃ fɛt/
Literally: In fact
En
in
fait
fact
Good to know
En fait is the everyday version and sits at the front of the sentence. En réalité and à vrai dire are slightly more formal alternatives that work in writing.
Correct
En fait
What people say wrong
Actuellement
currently, right now
The mistake to avoid. Actuellement is about time, not correction. It means currently. Actually, I'm French becomes Currently, I'm French, which raises more questions than it answers.
In context
En fait, je suis française.
Actually, I'm French.
En fait, ce n'est pas ce que je voulais dire.
Actually, that's not what I meant.
Actuellement, je vis à Lyon.
Currently, I live in Lyon.