aktuell or eigentlich?
b1Two false friends at once: English actual/actually is German eigentlich, while German aktuell means current, up to date. It is about time, not about truth.
aktuell
Current, up to date: die aktuelle Lage, aktuelle Zahlen. Never in the sense of „actually“.
Die aktuellen Zahlen sind besser.The current figures are better.
eigentlich
What English actually means: in truth, strictly speaking. Often with a quiet contrast to what was expected.
Eigentlich heißt sie anders.Her name is actually different.
The mistake
Aktuell wollte ich gar nicht kommen.
Eigentlich wollte ich gar nicht kommen.
The wrong sentence says „at present“ when „in truth“ was meant. That is „eigentlich“.
Rule of thumb
Test: is it about today? Then aktuell. Is it about the truth behind appearances? Then eigentlich.
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