фраер

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

• IPA^(key):

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

1. (slang) hotshot, cool guy

• фра́йер (frájer)

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

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

• IPA^(key):

• Audio:

  (file)

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.

• фраеро́к (frajerók)
• фраерну́ться (frajernútʹsja)

• 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)