frailes

Frailes are members of Catholic mendicant religious orders, commonly referred to in Spanish as frailes. The term comes from the Latin frater, meaning "brother." In contrast to monks, who typically live in cloistered monasteries, friars dedicate themselves to preaching, teaching, and missionary work among the laity, often relying on alms and the support of the communities they serve.

Most frailes profess vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They may be priests or lay brothers within their respective orders, and their daily life centers on community living, worship, and service. The orders they belong to—such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Carmelites—have distinct charisms and rules, but share a focus on apostolic activity, education, and care for the poor.

Historically, mendicant friars emerged in the 13th century and played a major role in urban ministry and education in Europe. In the Americas and other colonized regions, friars established missions, built churches and schools, and engaged in pastoral care, sometimes in cooperation with or under challenge from secular authorities. The legacy of friars in colonial contexts is complex, involving cultural exchange, evangelization, and criticism over cultural insensitivity or coercive practices.

Today the term fraile remains common in Spanish-speaking contexts to refer to members of these orders. The title Fray is often used in formal address before a friar's given name. In English-language contexts, "friar" is the closest equivalent.