fraai

Fraai is a Dutch adjective meaning beautiful, handsome, or nice. It can describe people, objects, or situations and often conveys a sense of aesthetics, refinement, or taste. While closely related to mooi, fraai carries nuances of style, elegance, or craftsmanship, and is commonly used to emphasize a pleasing appearance or quality.

In use, fraai appears across formal, descriptive, and literary Dutch, and it is understood in both the Netherlands and Flanders. It can appear with nouns, as in een fraai huis, or with phrases such as fraai weer (nice weather) and fraai gedaan (well done). The word can denote appearance, design, or execution that is particularly pleasing or well-made.

Comparison and nuance: Fraai can sound more elevated or old-fashioned than mooi in everyday speech. It is not interchangeable in all contexts; for weather and casual descriptions, mooi is more common, while fraai may imply stylistic appeal or craftsmanship.

Origin and cognates: Fraai is of Dutch origin and has cognates in Afrikaans (fraai) and other West Germanic languages. It is attested in Middle Dutch and remains part of modern Dutch vocabulary.

See also: Mooi; Aantrekkelijk; Knap.