noun Uncommon

fra

frah

Fra (noun) means a title placed before the name of a Roman Catholic friar or monk, similar to "Brother.". Example: “The letter was signed Fra Angelico.”

noun

A title placed before the name of a Roman Catholic friar or monk, similar to "Brother."

"The letter was signed Fra Angelico."

"Visitors greeted the old monk as Fra Bernardo."

How to use fra

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA monk's title, like calling someone "Brother So-and-so."

Common pairings

Fra Angelico Fra Bernardo

Word forms

Fras plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “fra” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The letter was signed _____ Angelico.

Etymology

From Italian frate ("brother, friar"), the same root that gives English "friar."

Origin: Italian

Frequently asked questions

What does “fra” mean?

The word “fra” means a title placed before the name of a Roman Catholic friar or monk, similar to "Brother.". In plain terms, a monk's title, like calling someone "Brother So-and-so.".

How do you pronounce “fra”?

“Fra” is pronounced frah (/fɹɑː/ in IPA).

How do you use “fra” in a sentence?

Here is “fra” used in a sentence: “The letter was signed Fra Angelico.”

What part of speech is “fra”?

“Fra” is a noun.

Where does the word “fra” come from?

The word “fra” comes from Italian. From Italian frate ("brother, friar"), the same root that gives English "friar.".

Is “fra” a common word?

“Fra” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include fra:

Words with Italian origins