Context: I’m missing a cutting board. So I wrote in our telegram family group: “Wo ist eigentlich unser zweites großes Schneidebrett hin?” (literally: “Where is actually our second big cuttingboard thither?”).
By using the modal particle “eigentlich” I insinuate that something is oddly off and express an emotional state of curiousity and/or mild discontent.
By adding “hin”, I notify that I ask because it is not where it is supposed to be and not because I don’t know where it should be.
Now I ask myself, how would I express this additional information in English?
Edit: Thank you all for your answers! I learned a lot. Just our cutting board is still gone, and probably enjoying it’s freedom somewhere … I suppose.
Is this one of two big cutting boards that are basically the same size or the one just below the largest in size (i.e. second biggest/largest). I was reading it as the latter, but i haven’t studied German in 20+ years now so I may be wrong
One of two big cutting boards that are the same size. The second largest would be “das zweitgrößte”.
Ah right. It’s been a long time. Thank you!