Spanish Conversation · Level 41
75 words
Spanish word
fray
Pronunciation
IPA/fɾaj/
Meaning
- masculine nounfriar
Example
Fray Juan llegó temprano a la iglesia.
Friar Juan arrived early at the church.
More examples
¿Dónde está fray Antonio después de la misa?
Where is Friar Antonio after mass?
Core concept
Clerical honorific attached to a brother's name.
Similar words
fraile: Male religious who lives in a monastery or religious house under vows.
monje: Male monastic who lives in a monastery in a communal life devoted to prayer and work.
hermano: Professed religious brother in an order, usually a non-ordained member of the community.
cura: Ordained Catholic priest serving a parish or performing sacramental duties.
Definition in Spanish
Tratamiento usado ante el nombre propio para identificar a un varón que pertenece a una orden religiosa, equivalente a 'fraile' o 'hermano' en contextos religiosos.
Word origin
From Latin frater 'brother', the word enters Spanish in the medieval period as fray to mark a friar's title.
Usage tips
- Mostly found in formal or historical contexts and placed before the given name rather than as a general noun, with Sor as the equivalent title for women.
Other meanings
- brothernoun
Opposites
- laicolaymannoun
- seglarlaypersonnoun