Usage Note
malheureusement is the adverbial form of malheureux ('unhappy, unfortunate'). It typically opens a sentence to signal bad news or a regrettable fact. Its antonym is heureusement ('fortunately'). The base noun malheur means 'misfortune'.
Examples
"Malheureusement, nous ne pouvons pas venir."
Natural Translation
Unfortunately, we cannot come.
Literal Translation
Unfortunately, we can-not come

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