fraiche

Fraîche is the feminine singular form of the French adjective frais, meaning "fresh." It describes something that is recently produced, new, or in good condition when the noun it modifies is feminine. For masculine nouns the corresponding form is frais, and for feminine plural it is fraîches. The term appears across contexts such as food, climate, and everyday descriptors: une soupe fraîche, des fraises fraîches, une eau fraîche.

Etymology and form: Fraîche derives from Old French frais, itself from Latin recens meaning "recent." The circumflex over the i (î) marks historical vowel changes and helps distinguish frais and fraîche in standard spelling. In standard French, the correct spelling for the feminine singular is fraîche; the unaccented form fraiche is considered nonstandard in formal writing, though it may occur in informal contexts or brand names.

Usage examples and notes: In cuisine, the compound crème fraîche refers to a cultured cream used as an ingredient or topping. The phrase preserves the feminine form of fraîche to agree with crème. Care is needed not to confuse fraîche with fraise (strawberry), which is a different word entirely. Fraîche is also used to describe weather or atmosphere: une brise fraîche, une journée fraîche.

Related terms: Fraîcheur is the noun form meaning freshness or coolness, often used to talk about climate, air, or the sensation of freshness. In everyday French, fraîche is a common descriptor in markets, menus, and recipes, reflecting quality and immediacy of the product or condition.