“They eventually went to the bar and had a couple of beers, and he eventually went home with that less attractive girl and had sex with her.” (quote from a book I read)

It sounds like you’re describing the day in a complete haze and as if nothing mattered anyway if you think that “eventually” means “possibly” or “maybe” ! It’s much more beautiful

Unsurprisingly, I find the German version much more logical. The German logic goes like this: If I “_must_ do” something, I have no way avoiding it. But: If I “_must not_ do” something, it is voluntary, since the “not” cancels the “must”.

In the English understanding in contrast, I “must _not do_” something, e.g. it is forbidden. This seems illogical to Germans because “do” is an action verb and you cannot actively “not do” something.

Another one often misinterpreted is “silicone” vs. “Silikon”. There are movies where “Silikonchips” play a role.

Oh, and not to forget “billion” vs. “Billionen”.

pathetic vs. pathetisch
sensible vs. sensibel

Even Der Spiegel translates ‘pathetic excuses’ into ‘pathetische Entschuldigungen’. Aaargggh…..;-)

Once I was an exchange student in the US and I really loved it. My American family was amazing and my host brothers and I really had a great time. So, when I got back to Germany, we arranged everything for my exchange brother to come over. Before he came, my mom wrote a letter to his parents to say “thank you” again and how happy I was at their house and that she would love to meet them some time…. You need to know that her English was - hm - not perfect, I guess.

And so she wrote: “I am very afraid for your son to come into my house!”

My American mom called a few days later and first I had no clue about what this sentence was supposed to say - but then I got it. It was “erfreut!”

I suggest we take the french language to judge this: In french “éventuel” has the same meaning than the german “eventuell”.