éventuellement

Éventuellement is a French adverb meaning possibly or potentially. It signals that a fact, outcome, or action is not certain but could occur or be relevant under certain conditions. In English it is often translated as "possibly" or "potentially." The term is less definite than phrases like “certainly” and is used to hedge statements or introduce a conditional possibility.

Étymology and form: Éventuellement derives from the adjective éventuel, meaning "possible" or "contingent." Éventuel itself comes from the noun événement (event). The adverbial suffix -ment converts the adjective into an adverb, giving a sense of a hypothetical or conditional possibility rather than a guarantee.

Usage and nuance: In formal or written French, éventuellement is common to present a cautious option. It can introduce a clause or come mid-sentence: "Éventuellement, si le budget le permet, nous lancerons le projet." It may also appear at the sentence's start: "Éventuellement, cela pourrait changer notre décision." In everyday spoken French, peut-être is more common and a bit more natural in casual speech.

Limitations and tips: Éventuellement should not be interpreted as meaning "in the end" or "eventually" in the English sense; that sense is typically conveyed by finalement or à la fin. The word is best translated as "possibly" or "potentially" and is useful for framing conditional or provisional plans.

See also: éventualité (noun meaning "eventuality"), éventuel/e (adjective meaning "possible").