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Frati

Frati is the Italian word for brothers. In religious contexts, it designates male members of Christian religious orders who live in community, take vows, and dedicate themselves to prayer, work, and service. In English-language contexts these individuals are usually called friars, while female members of religious communities are referred to as sorelle or nuns in other traditions.

Etymology and usage. The term frati derives from the Latin frater, meaning brother. Italian also uses the

Contexts and examples. Frati may belong to various orders, such as the Franciscans (Frati Minori), Dominicans,

Related terms and concepts. The term frati is part of a broader vocabulary in Catholic and Christian

honorific
fra
or
frà
(often
written
as
Fra)
before
the
name
of
a
friar,
as
in
Fra
Angelico,
to
indicate
a
member
of
a
religious
order.
The
singular
form
is
frate
or
fra,
depending
on
the
order
and
historical
usage.
or
Capuchins,
and
are
identified
by
the
order
they
belong
to,
for
example
i
frati
cappuccini
or
i
frati
domenicani.
The
plural
frati
is
commonly
used
in
liturgical,
historical,
and
devotional
writings
when
referring
to
a
group
of
brothers
in
a
community.
religious
life
that
includes
friars
(English),
monks,
and
nuns.
It
reflects
the
Latin-root
idea
of
fraternity
and
communal
living
within
religious
orders.