der Freier
suitor
A man who courts a woman with the intention of pursuing a relationship or marriage.
EXAMPLE
Der Freier hielt beim Vater der jungen Frau um ihre Hand an.
The suitor asked the young woman's father for her hand in marriage.
der Freier
suitor / client
der Freier, die Freier
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Meanings
der Freier
client
A man who uses the sexual services of a prostitute.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei befragte den Freier vor dem Eingang des Bordells.
The police questioned the client outside the brothel.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Freier, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance (der)
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Freier |
| genitive | des Freiers |
The four cases (der)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Freier | die Freier |
| accusative | den Freier | die Freier |
| dative | dem Freier | den Freiern |
| genitive | des Freiers | der Freier |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
At a glance (der)
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Freien |
| genitive | des Freien |
The four cases (der)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Freie | die Freien |
| accusative | den Freien | die Freien |
| dative | dem Freien | den Freien |
| genitive | des Freien | der Freien |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Freier' (suitor / client) belongs to the word family of 'freien' (to court someone), in the sense of courting someone. This connection is especially helpful for the meaning related to love and marriage; in modern usage, the noun is also used in another social context.
EXAMPLE
In der alten Erzählung erscheint ein wohlhabender Freier im Dorf.
A wealthy suitor appears in the village in the old story.
Typical collocations
In the meaning related to love and marriage, 'Freier' (suitor) is often used with verbs such as 'werben' (to court), 'ablehnen' (to reject), or 'annehmen' (to accept). The expression 'zahlreiche Freier haben' (to have numerous suitors) is also particularly common in literary or historical texts.
EXAMPLE
Die junge Frau lehnte mehrere Freier ab, weil sie noch nicht heiraten wollte.
The young woman rejected several suitors because she did not yet want to get married.
Context clue
The meaning can usually be recognized from the context: words such as 'Bordell' (brothel), 'Prostituierte' (prostitute), or 'sexuelle Dienstleistung' (sexual service) indicate a prostitute's client. Words such as 'Braut' (bride), 'Heirat' (marriage), or 'um die Hand anhalten' (to ask for someone's hand in marriage) indicate the meaning of a man seeking marriage.
EXAMPLE
Im Bericht wurde erklärt, wie Freier und Prostituierte durch eine neue Regelung geschützt werden sollen.
The report explained how clients and prostitutes are to be protected by a new regulation.
In real life
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