frei

See also: -frei, Frei, freí, and fréi

German

Alternative forms

  • frey (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle High German [Term?], Old High German frī, from Proto-Germanic *frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European *preyH- (to be fond of). Compare Dutch vrij, English free, Danish fri.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fraɪ̯/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯

Adjective

frei (comparative freier, superlative am freisten or am freiesten)

  1. free; unenslaved; unimprisoned
    Antonym: unfrei
  2. free; unrestricted; more negative also: unrestrained; licentious
    Synonyms: ungezwungen, ungebunden
  3. unblocked; free for passage
  4. independent; unaffiliated
  5. (with von) free of (not containing or unaffected by)
    • Friedrich Karl Kasimir, Freiherr von Creuz, Neujahrsgedanken (from: Die geistliche Dichtung von Luther bis Klopstock. Ausgewählt von Paul Pressel. Einzelausgabe der evangelischen Volksbibliothek. Herausgegeben von Dr. Klaider, Stuttgart, 1864, page 933):
      Wer schläft und ist von Sorgen freier?
      Der Tod belauscht die stille Nacht
      So wie des Nilstroms Ungeheuer
      Des Ufers Schilf unsicher macht.
  6. (not freely applicable) liberal
    Synonyms: liberal, freiheitlich
  7. (not freely applicable; see usage notes) free of charge, gratis
    Synonyms: kostenlos, gratis

Usage notes

  • Frei can mean “free of charge” only in the context of public services, e.g. freie Krankenversorgung ("free medical care"), and in some fixed expressions such as Freibier (free beer) or freie Kost und Logis (free board and lodge). Otherwise, kostenlos should be used.

Declension

Derived terms

Further reading

  • frei in Duden online

Luxembourgish

Verb

frei

  1. second-person singular imperative of freien

Pennsylvania German

Etymology

From Old High German frī, from Proto-Germanic *frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European *preyH- (to be fond of). Compare German frei, Dutch vrij, English free.

Adjective

frei

  1. free
  2. exempt
  3. clear

Portuguese

Pronunciation

  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈfɾɐj/, /ˈfɾej/

Noun

frei m (plural freis)

  1. Alternative form of freire
    Frei Luís de Sousa
    Brother Luís de Sousa.

Scots

Adjective

frei (comparative freier, superlative freiist)

  1. (South Scots, archaic) free
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