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Help[Opinions] Re: Gretchen-WDYTO it? How do you pronounce it?
in reply to a message by Dragon_Clarinet
Gretchen is not used as a name in Germany. It was a long time ago but only as a nickname for Margarethe. I don't know anyone named Gretchen or Margarethe but I do know one Grete (GREH-teh) The character in Faust is also named Margarethe. Gretchen is her nickname. It does seem very very nicknameish to someone from Germany and dated as well.
It is pronounced with a long eh sound in Germany- more like GREHT-chen or GRAYT-chen than GRETT-chen. The -chen is pronounced with a sound that doesn't exist in the English language. I guess the closest would be GRAYT-shen. But the ch is really soft, it is a sound that just does not exist in German. I think most Germans wouldn't know what it is if the heard it pronouced in English- it sounds really different.
I much prefer Greta, especially in English speaking countries though I think Gretchen with the German pronunciation is kind of cute. Only a nn though.
It is pronounced with a long eh sound in Germany- more like GREHT-chen or GRAYT-chen than GRETT-chen. The -chen is pronounced with a sound that doesn't exist in the English language. I guess the closest would be GRAYT-shen. But the ch is really soft, it is a sound that just does not exist in German. I think most Germans wouldn't know what it is if the heard it pronouced in English- it sounds really different.
I much prefer Greta, especially in English speaking countries though I think Gretchen with the German pronunciation is kind of cute. Only a nn though.
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