Asking and answering
Use Frage for a question in class, conversation, forms, interviews, and exercises. It is one of the first nouns learners need for classroom German.
Ich habe eine Frage zur Grammatik.
dieA1DE-EN
noun
Frage
Translation
question; issue; matter
Frage usually means question, but it can also mean issue or matter when people discuss a problem or decision.
Teacher note
Frage is not only something with a question mark. In German, die Frage can also be the topic under discussion: the question of safety, time, or cost.
Usage scenarios
Discussing an issue
Frage can also mean issue or matter when a topic is being debated. This use appears often in news, essays, and formal discussion.
Die Frage der Sicherheit bleibt wichtig.
Choose the right translation
question
Use for direct questions, classroom tasks, and things you ask.
issue
Use when Frage means a problem or public topic.
matter
Use in phrases such as a matter of time or a matter of trust.
Usage guide
The core phrase is eine Frage stellen. German does not use machen here. This is a high-frequency collocation and should be learned as a fixed chunk.
Frage is broader than a sentence with a question mark. In expressions like eine Frage der Zeit or die soziale Frage, it means a matter or issue.
When Frage means issue, English often should not translate it as question. A sentence can be grammatically correct but still unnatural if you miss that broader meaning.
How to study this entry
Start with the classroom use. Write three useful learner sentences: Ich habe eine Frage, Darf ich eine Frage stellen, and Ich kann die Frage beantworten. These are practical enough to use immediately in a lesson or tutoring session.
Then widen the meaning. Take the phrases eine Frage der Zeit, die Frage der Sicherheit, and eine offene Frage. Translate them with matter or issue where question sounds stiff. This prevents the English translation from becoming too narrow.
For correction practice, deliberately write the wrong phrase eine Frage machen, cross it out, and replace it with eine Frage stellen. The physical correction helps because English make a question tempts many learners.
Use Frage in one discussion sentence, not only a classroom sentence. For example, write about die Frage der Kosten or die Frage der Sicherheit. This forces you to translate meaning, not punctuation.
During review, cover the German noun and look only at the verb. Stellen, beantworten, klaeren, diskutieren, and aufwerfen each suggest a different type of question or issue. The verb is a clue to the best English translation.
Word forms and word building
Die Frage is feminine, and the plural is die Fragen. The verb fragen means to ask, while befragen means to question or interview someone.
Fraglich is an adjective meaning questionable or doubtful. Nachfrage is a follow-up question or demand, depending on context.
The phrase in Frage kommen means to be possible or be worth considering. It is idiomatic and cannot be translated word by word.
Meaning boundaries
Frage vs Problem
Frage can be a topic or issue. Problem is more clearly a difficulty that needs a solution.
Frage vs Anfrage
Anfrage is an inquiry or request, often in business or customer communication.
Question vs issue
Translate Frage as issue when the sentence discusses a public topic, decision, or matter.
Verb pattern
Use eine Frage stellen and eine Frage beantworten as fixed high-value phrases.
Memory guide
Learn the classroom chain: eine Frage stellen, die Frage verstehen, die Frage beantworten. This covers common lesson situations.
Make two columns in your notes: question mark meanings and issue meanings. Add examples so Frage does not stay too narrow.
If English question sounds odd in your translation, try issue or matter. That one check improves many B1 and B2 sentences.
Patterns that sound natural
eine Frage stellen
to ask a question
Darf ich eine Frage stellen?
May I ask a question?
eine Frage beantworten
to answer a question
Kannst du die Frage beantworten?
Can you answer the question?
eine Frage der Zeit
a matter of time
Das ist nur eine Frage der Zeit.
That is only a matter of time.
Common learner trap
Using machen with Frage.
German says eine Frage stellen, not eine Frage machen.
Try it yourself
Which verb completes the phrase: eine Frage ___?
stellen. The phrase is eine Frage stellen.
Examples
Das ist eine gute Frage.
That is a good question.
Die Frage ist schwer zu beantworten.
The question is hard to answer.
Sicherheit ist hier die wichtigste Frage.
Safety is the most important issue here.