Where does “frei” come from?

frei (Pennsylvania German) comes from Middle High German vrī, from Old High German 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 (Pennsylvania German): free; exempt; clear

Definitions

  1. free; exempt; clear

Ancestry of “frei”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanvrī—
2Old High Germanfrīfree
3Proto-West Germanicfrīfree
4Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
6Proto-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 →
frei — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer