Fries

See also: fries and fríes

English

Etymology

The town was named after a prominent cotton-mill owner, Francis Henry Fries.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɹiːz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːz
• Homophones: frees, frieze

Proper noun

Fries

1. A surname
2. A town in Virginia.

Anagrams

• fiers, fires, serif

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Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfris/

• audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Fries
• Rhymes: -is

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch Friese, but also Vriese, Vrese, from Old Dutch *Frieso, probably via Old Saxon *Frēso. Borrowed and re-borrowed, at varying times in history, from Old Frisian Frēsa, Frīsa (modern West Frisian Fries).

Initial v- is expected from natural development from Old Dutch, in which voicing of initial f- to v- occurs naturally. The modern form with f- is probably influenced by the Frisian endonym. However, the original voiced consonant is retained in the common surname de Vries.

Noun

Fries m (plural Friezen, diminutive Friesje n, feminine Friese)

1. a Frisian, member of a Germanic people; speaker of their language
2. a West Frisian specifically
3. Short form for various names relating to Friesland or Frisians, such as the bovine race.

Usage notes

In the Netherlands, Fries most often refers implicitly to the Frisians with whom Dutch people are most familiar, the West Frisians.

Alternative forms

• Vries (obsolete)

Derived terms

• de Vries
• Friesland

Etymology 2

From Fries +‎ -s.

Adjective

Fries (comparative Frieser, superlative meest Fries or Friest)

1. Frisian (any member of the Frisian people)
2. West Frisian specifically (of the Frisian part of the Netherlands)

Inflection

Declension of Fries
uninflected	Fries
inflected	Friese
comparative	Frieser
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		Fries	Frieser	het Friest het Frieste
indefinite	m./f. sing.	Friese	Friesere	Frieste
	n. sing.	Fries	Frieser	Frieste
	plural	Friese	Friesere	Frieste
definite		Friese	Friesere	Frieste
partitive		Fries	Friesers	—

Alternative forms

• Friesch (obsolete)
• Vriesch (obsolete)

Derived terms

• Noordfries
• Oostfries
• Westfries
• Westerlauwers Fries
• Friese ruiter

Proper noun

Fries n

1. Frisian (any of the Frisian languages)
2. specifically, West Frisian

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German

Etymology

Borrowed from French frise.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːs

Noun

Fries m (genitive Frieses, plural Friese)

1. frieze (sculptured or richly ornamented band)

Further reading

• “Fries” in Duden online

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West Frisian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /friə̯s/

Noun

Fries c (plural Friezen)

1. Frisian person

Further reading

• “Fries (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011