fris

Fris is a term with several related meanings tied to the Frisian cultural and linguistic region around the North Sea. It can refer to a historic ethnonym, a modern language group, and also to a Dutch adjective and a surname.

Frisian peoples: The Frisii were a Germanic people who lived along the North Sea coast in what is now the Netherlands and northwestern Germany during ancient and early medieval times. Their name survives in the term Frisian and in the region of Friesland, which carries forward the historical association with this group.

Frisian languages: The Frisian languages form a branch of the West Germanic language family and are spoken in the Netherlands and northern Germany. The best-known living varieties are West Frisian (spoken in Friesland in the Netherlands), North Frisian (in Schleswig-Holstein), and Saterland Frisian (in the Saterland region of Lower Saxony). They are recognized as minority languages with cultural and linguistic significance in their respective areas.

Fris as an adjective and surname: In Dutch and Frisian, fris means fresh, lively, or cool, and can describe weather, beverages, or people. Fris is also a surname of Frisian or Dutch origin and is borne by individuals in the Netherlands and beyond.