original / originally
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originally
Refers to the beginning or the first state of something. It describes how something was at the start, before it changed.
Ursprünglich wollte ich Medizin studieren, habe mich dann aber für Jura entschieden.
Originally, I wanted to study medicine, but then I decided on law.
original / pristine
Describes something in its original, unaltered, or natural state.
Wir wanderten durch eine ursprüngliche Waldlandschaft.
We hiked through a pristine forest landscape.
The word contains the stem 'Ursprung' (origin). The prefix 'ur-' means 'right at the beginning' or 'original'. An 'Ursprung' is therefore the point at which something begins.
Der Ursprung des Konflikts liegt viele Jahre zurück.
The origin of the conflict lies many years in the past.
The position in the sentence helps you recognize the meaning. If 'ursprünglich' (originally) stands at the beginning of the sentence, it usually means 'first' or 'initially'. If it stands directly before a noun, it describes that noun's original state.
Ursprünglich war das Haus viel kleiner.
Originally, the house was much smaller.
When 'ursprünglich' (originally) means 'initially', it often stands in position 1 in the sentence. The conjugated verb then follows directly in position 2. It often introduces a contrast that continues with 'aber' (but) or 'dann' (then).
Ursprünglich war ein Ausflug geplant, aber das Wetter war zu schlecht.
Originally, an outing was planned, but the weather was too bad.
In the meaning of 'natürlich' (natural) or 'unverfälscht' (unaltered), the adjective is often combined with nouns from the areas of nature, culture, or food, e.g. 'eine ursprüngliche Landschaft' (a pristine landscape), 'ein ursprüngliches Dorf' (an original/traditional village), or 'der ursprüngliche Geschmack' (the original taste).
In den Alpen gibt es noch viele ursprüngliche Wälder.
In the Alps, there are still many pristine forests.
actually / really
Both words can work for an action that was planned earlier but was not carried out. „eigentlich“ refers more to the underlying or expected intention, while „ursprünglich“ explicitly refers to the first plan chronologically. Use „ursprünglich“ when later changes are important, and „eigentlich“ for an unfulfilled intention.
Ich wollte ursprünglich heute früher nach Hause gehen, änderte aber meinen Plan.
I originally wanted to go home earlier today, but I changed my plans.
Ich wollte eigentlich heute früher nach Hause gehen.
I actually wanted to go home earlier today.
