supposedly / alleged
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supposedly
Expresses that something is claimed but not proven. The speaker often signals doubt or distance from the statement.
Er hat angeblich im Lotto gewonnen, aber niemand hat den Scheck gesehen.
He supposedly won the lottery, but no one has seen the check.
The word derives from the verb 'angeben' (to claim / to state), which means 'behaupten' (to claim) or 'nennen' (to name / to state). 'Angeblich' (supposedly) therefore describes something that has only been stated, but not confirmed or proven.
Der angebliche Zeuge konnte sich an nichts erinnern.
The alleged witness could not remember anything.
As an adverb, 'angeblich' (supposedly) can appear flexibly in the sentence. It often stands at the beginning of the sentence (with inversion) or in the middle of the sentence to mark the whole statement or part of it as uncertain.
Angeblich will er das Land verlassen.
Supposedly, he wants to leave the country.
The use of 'angeblich' (supposedly) always shows the speaker's distance from the statement. It makes clear that you are only passing on the information and are not sure yourself whether it is true.
Die Firma soll angeblich kurz vor der Pleite stehen.
The company is supposedly on the verge of bankruptcy.
actually / really
'eigentlich' and 'angeblich' are opposites here. 'eigentlich' says what is really or actually the case, even if it seems different. 'angeblich' only says that someone claims something; the speaker is often not sure or has doubts. Learners may confuse the words because both make a statement about truth. The difference is important: with 'eigentlich', you are more likely to confirm reality; with 'angeblich', you keep your distance from a claim.
Eva hat angeblich den letzten Zug verpasst, aber niemand weiß es genau.
Eva supposedly missed the last train, but no one knows for sure.
Die Ärztin wirkt streng, aber eigentlich ist sie sehr freundlich.
The doctor seems strict, but she is actually very friendly.