"What actually happened?"

Translation: Vad hände egentligen?

[Conundrum89]

Is faktiskt not a valid choice here instead of egentligen?

[Lundgren8]

You can use faktiskt in statements to show that something is surprising or similar, but this is a question, so it sounds very peculiar to use it.

[abbeloosje]

Any reason verkligen is not accepted?

[Larry-Johnson]

My question, too.

[abbeloosje]

I asked my Swedish coworker. He couldn't explain why, but he wouldn't use it in this sentence.

[Hybridsynth]

So there are two words for 'really' right?

I believe 'Verkligen' is to describe something in a positive manner/ to agree the tone (if you get what I mean), e.g Maten är verkligen god; Jag gillade verkligen det.

'Egentligen' is like in a negative tone on the other hand, like to disagree what we have thought, e.g. in this sample sentence: I thought you died in a fire but you showed up at work the next day, vad hände egentligen?/ or with my previous example: Maten är egentligen god as I thought this was a terrible restaurant!

This is just what I believed is right, but I'm also a beginner, so please correct me if it's wrong.

[Alexanna19]

Why is it egentligen and not egentligt?

[anti__fun]

egentligt is an adjective, egentligen is an adverb