actuel

Actuel is a French adjective meaning current, present, or happening now. It is used to describe things that belong to the present time, such as la situation actuelle or les problèmes actuels. The word can also convey a sense of modernity or contemporaneity, as in design actuel or art actuel. The adverbial form is actuellement, used to indicate that something is taking place at the present moment, for example, il travaille actuellement.

Etymology: Actuel derives from Latin actualis, formed from actus (an act or doing) plus the suffix -alis, and then passed into French with the current meaning of “pertaining to the present act.” The gendered forms in French are actuel (masculine) and actuelle (feminine).

Usage notes: In everyday language, actuel is versatile, but it is not interchangeable with the English word actual. In French, actuel often emphasizes modernity or immediacy, while actual in English can mean “real” or “factual” in some contexts. The noun actuelle means current events, news, or updates, and is used in compounds like l’actualité.

Notable uses: Actuel has also been used as the title of publications, notably a French weekly magazine that circulated during the late 20th century. The magazine carried coverage of culture, politics, and countercultural topics. Other publications have adopted Actuel as a title or brand.

See also: Actualité; current affairs; contemporanéité.