hamvraag

Dutch

FWOTD – 2 January 2019

Etymology

From ham (“ham”) +‎ vraag (“question”). The term originated from the 1950s Dutch radio quiz Mastklimmen, in which contestants received a ham as the final prize.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɦɑm.vraːx/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ham‧vraag

Noun

hamvraag f (plural hamvragen, diminutive hamvraagje n)

1. million-dollar question (the final, critical or most important question, the crux)
   • 2004, Yvonne Keuls, Familiegedoe, Ambo:

     ‘De hamvraag is natuurlijk: is hij gevaarlijk?’ poneert meneer Mercedes.

     "Of course the million-dollar question is: is he dangerous?" states Mr. Mercedes.