frän

Swedish

Etymology

Unknown. Likely related to Norwegian fræna (“to give off a strong odor”). Possibly also related to Norwegian frøyna (“to wrinkle up one's nose, make a wry face”), English frine, English frown.

Adjective

frän (comparative fränare, superlative fränast)

1. acrid, strong (having an offensive or intense odor or flavor)
2. (figuratively) mean, vicious, caustic (intensely critical)
3. (slang) cool, hip

Declension

Inflection of frän

Indefinite	positive	comparative	superlative1
common singular	frän	fränare	fränast
neuter singular	fränt	fränare	fränast
plural	fräna	fränare	fränast
masculine plural2	fräne	fränare	fränast
Definite	positive	comparative	superlative
masculine singular3	fräne	fränare	fränaste
all	fräna	fränare	fränaste

¹ The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
² Dated or archaic.
³ Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

References

• frän in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• frän in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• frän in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• frän in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)