Spanish Conversation · Level 189
15 words
Spanish word
fraile
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈfɾaile/
Meaning
- masculine nounfriar
Example
El fraile llegó al convento.
The friar arrived at the convent.
More examples
En la fiesta local, un fraile franciscano bendijo a los presentes.
At the local festival, a friar of the Franciscan order blessed those present.
Core concept
A member of a male religious community who wears a habit, lives in community, and serves others.
Common phrases
fraile franciscano
friar of the Franciscan order
fraile dominico
friar of the Dominican order
Similar words
monje: Lives in a monastery, centering daily life on prayer and manual work.
sacerdote: Leads worship and celebrates sacraments in a church as an ordained priest.
cura: Oversees a parish, offering pastoral care and leading local worship.
religioso: Engages in a committed religious life as a member of an order or community.
Definition in Spanish
Hombre miembro de una orden religiosa cristiana que vive en comunidad y cumple votos de pobreza, oración y servicio.
Word origin
The word traces to Latin frater 'brother' and passes through Old Spanish into modern fraile, paralleling Italian frate and English friar.
Usage tips
- When specifying an order, speakers often use constructions like fraile franciscano to indicate the brother's community, and use monje for enclosed monks.
Other meanings
- brothernoun
Opposites
- laicosecular personnoun