Expresses that something could happen possibly or under certain circumstances; a synonym for 'vielleicht' (maybe) or 'möglicherweise' (possibly).
example
Ich komme heute Abend eventuell etwas später, weil ich noch arbeiten muss.
I may come a bit later this evening because I still have to work.
Usage tips
False friend
Careful: 'eventuell' means 'vielleicht' (maybe) or 'möglicherweise' (possibly). It looks like the English 'eventually', but that means 'schließlich' (finally) or 'am Ende' (in the end).
EXAMPLE
Wir können uns eventuell morgen treffen, wenn du Zeit hast.
We could possibly meet tomorrow if you have time.
Word order
As an adverb, 'eventuell' is flexible. It can stand at the beginning of the sentence; then the verb follows in position 2. Or it appears in the middle of the sentence, usually after the conjugated verb.
EXAMPLE
Eventuell hat der Laden heute länger geöffnet.
Possibly, the shop is open longer today.
Register
'Eventuell' is often used in written language or in more formal conversations. It sounds somewhat more formal and considered than the more common word 'vielleicht' (maybe).
EXAMPLE
Bitte teilen Sie uns mit, ob Sie eventuell teilnehmen können.
Please let us know whether you might be able to participate.
Compare with
synonym
eventuell vs vielleicht
maybe
'vielleicht' and 'eventuell' both express that something is possible but not certain. In many sentences, you can use the two words in a similar way. 'vielleicht' sounds very natural in everyday speech and fits almost any situation. 'eventuell' sounds somewhat more factual and is often used when something depends on certain circumstances, for example with appointments, plans, or decisions. For polite requests or exclamations, 'vielleicht' is more suitable, not 'eventuell'.
eventuell
Ich komme eventuell später, wenn der Zug Verspätung hat.
I may arrive later if the train is delayed.
vielleicht
Vielleicht können wir den Termin auf morgen verschieben.