tatsächlicher

Tatsächlicher is the comparative form of the German adjective tatsächlich, which means real, actual or factual. As an adjective, tatsächlich describes nouns and agrees with gender, number, and case, for example: ein tatsächlicher Fall, eine tatsächliche Feststellung, die tatsächlichen Ergebnisse. As an adverb, tatsächlich means in fact or actually, and is not declined.

Etymology and related terms: Tatsächlich derives from Tatsache, meaning fact or actuality, itself formed from Tat (act) and Sache (matter/thing). Related nouns include Tatsache (fact), Tatsächlichkeit or Tatsächlichkeit (factualness, actuality). Distinct from similar words such as wirklich (really, truly) and faktisch (factual in a more technical or pragmatic sense), tatsächlich emphasizes factual reality grounded in observation or evidence.

Usage and nuance: Tatsächlicher is mainly used to compare the degree of factuality between two things, or to form the attributive adjective before a noun in comparative constructions. For example: Dieser Beleg ist tatsächlicher als jener. Das ist ein tatsächlicherer Fall als der vorige. In normal statements one would typically use tatsächlich as an adverb: Es ist tatsächlich so, dass … When used attributively, the endings follow standard German adjective declension rules (tatsächlicher Fall, tatsächliche Ergebnisse, etc.).

Common distinctions: Tatsächlich refers to the truth of a statement or situation (in fact, indeed), while faktisch or real disparately emphasize the practical or observable state. Wirklich can overlap in meaning but tends to be more general or colloquial.

See also: Tatsache, Tatsächlichkeit, faktisch, wirklich.