really, actually, in truth — Used to frame a statement as being a more (formally) truthful description of the situation in comparison to another claim or assumption; with that description being the more pertinent one

• Das ist eigentlich ganz einfach.

  Oh, it's quite simple, really.

  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR

• Eigentlich hätte ich das wissen müssen.

  I really should've known that.

  Tatoeba · Hans07 · CC BY 2.0 FR

technically, strictly speaking, officially — Used to frame a statement as being a more (formally) truthful description of the situation in comparison to another claim or assumption; with that description being secondary to some de-facto practice

• Eigentlich war meine Antwort keine Lüge.

  My answer was not technically a lie.

  Tatoeba · Waldelfe · CC BY 2.0 FR

Used to introduce a question primarily driven by curiosity that might only be loosely if at all connected to the previous topicrare

actual, real, proper — as opposed to something secondary serving as a distraction or impostor

• Was ist das eigentliche Problem?

  What's the real problem?

  Tatoeba · Tamy · CC BY 2.0 FR

• Hier ist das eigentliche Problem.

  Here's the real problem.

  Tatoeba · Tamy · CC BY 2.0 FR