Gretchenfrage

== German == === Etymology === From Gretchen (diminutive of Grete = Margarete) +‎ Frage (“question”). Refers to Goethe's Faust (published 1808), where the character of Gretchen asks the protagonist, who is secretly in league with the devil: Nun sag, wie hast du's mit der Religion? (“Now say, what is your stance on religion? ≈ what's the role of religion in your life?”). The expression of Gretchenfrage was coined in the mid-19th century (attested 1865 in Löwe [ed.], Schlesische Provinzialblätter, issue 1168, p. 147). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡʁeːtçənˌfʁaːɡə/ === Noun === Gretchenfrage f (genitive Gretchenfrage, plural Gretchenfragen) a question as to the addressee's religiosity or belief in God a question that goes to the core of an issue, especially by exposing fundamental conflicts a crucial question that is difficult or unpleasant to answer truthfully ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “Gretchenfrage” in Duden online