фраер

Macedonian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈfraɛr]

Noun

фраер • (fraer) m (feminine фраерка, relational adjective фраерски, diminutive фраерче)

1. (slang) hotshot, cool guy

Declension

Declension of фраер

	singular	plural
indefinite	фраер	фраери
definite unspecified	фраерот	фраерите
definite proximal	фраеров	фраериве
definite distal	фраерон	фраерине
vocative	фраеру	фраери
count form	—	фраера

Russian

Alternative forms

• фра́йер (frájer)

Etymology

There are a number of theories about the origin of this term:

• Borrowed from German Freier (“suitor, bachelor; customer of prostitutes”) via Yiddish [Term?], from frei (“free”). First used by prostitutes in Odessa's criminal world to refer to their clients.
• Borrowed from German Freiherr (“baron”) via Yiddish [Term?], from frei +‎ Herr.
• Borrowed from Yiddish פֿרײַער (frayer, “free person”), from פֿרײַ (fray, “free”). Referring to someone who has not served time in prison.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈfra(j)ɪr]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

фра́ер • (frájer) m anim (genitive фра́ера, nominative plural фраера́ or фра́еры, genitive plural фраеро́в or фра́еров)

1. (criminal slang) not a criminal person, a potential victim of a crime, any person (male); a person criminals may consider as deserving of respect, even if he doesn't belong to their group.

   И фра́ер устремля́лся в сто́рону беды́ свое́й.

   I frájer ustremljálsja v stóronu bedý svojéj.

   And the guy just went towards his trouble

   ("На солнечной стороне улицы", Дина Рубина)

   Я не вор, я че́стный фра́ер.

   Ja ne vor, ja čéstnyj frájer.

   I'm not a thief, I'm an honest bloke

2. (slang) an unpleasant person, e.g. someone who behaves arrogantly, spoils a party, etc.

   Жа́дность фра́ера погу́бит.

   Žádnostʹ frájera pogúbit.

   Greed will kill the bad guy.

   (saying)

   Э́тот фра́ер да́же не соизво́лил мне позвони́ть, хотя́ я ему́ назва́нивал в тече́ние не́скольких дней.

   Étot frájer dáže ne soizvólil mne pozvonítʹ, xotjá ja jemú nazvánival v tečénije néskolʹkix dnej.

   And this jerk didn't even condescend to call me, although I kept calling him for a few days.

3. (slang) A naive or inexperienced person, a sucker, mug, patsy or sap; one who accedes to all requests, and is easily taken advantage of.

   Бог не фра́ер, он всё ви́дит.

   Box ne frájer, on vsjo vídit.

   God is not a sucker, he sees everything.

Declension

Declension of фра́ер (anim masc-form hard-stem accent-c/a irreg) 

	singular	plural
nominative	фра́ер frájer	фраера́△, фра́еры frajerá△, frájery
genitive	фра́ера frájera	фраеро́в, фра́еров frajeróv, frájerov
dative	фра́еру frájeru	фраера́м, фра́ерам frajerám, frájeram
accusative	фра́ера frájera	фраеро́в, фра́еров frajeróv, frájerov
instrumental	фра́ером frájerom	фраера́ми, фра́ерами frajerámi, frájerami
prepositional	фра́ере frájere	фраера́х, фра́ерах frajeráx, frájerax

^△ Irregular.

Related terms

• фраеро́к (frajerók)
• фраерну́ться (frajernútʹsja)

See also

• Czech: frajer m
• German: Freier m
• Hebrew: פראייר m (fráier) (in Hebrew)
• Polish: frajer m
• Romanian: fraier m
• Александр Сидоров. "Фраер - это звучит гордо" (Russian)