Where does “frei” come from?

frei (North Frisian) comes from Old Frisian frī, from Proto-West Germanic frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.

frei (North Frisian): free

Definitions

  1. free

Ancestry of “frei”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frisianfrīfree
2Proto-West Germanicfrīfree
3Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please
Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHós →Every word from Proto-Germanic frijaz →