fraco

Galician

Alternative forms

• fraque

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese fraco (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), a semi-learned borrowing from Latin flaccus (“flaccid”). Compare Portuguese fraco and Spanish flaco.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɾako/ [ˈfɾɑ.kʊ]
• Rhymes: -ako
• Hyphenation: fra‧co

Adjective

fraco (feminine fraca, masculine plural fracos, feminine plural fracas)

1. thin, skinny

   Synonym: delgado

2. (dated) weak (lacking in force)

   Synonyms: débil, feble

   • 1861, José Sánchez de Santamarina, transl., Gospel of Matthew, page 115:

     Que si ben o esprito está pronto, a carne sin embargo é fraca

     Because even if the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak

Derived terms

• punto fraco
• fraquén (“weakness”)

Related terms

• enfraquecer
• flácido
• fraquear
• fraqueza

References

• Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, Ana Isabel Boullón Agrelo (2006–2022) “fraco”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Xavier Varela Barreiro, Xavier Gómez Guinovart (2006–2018) “fraco”, in Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: ILG
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “fraco”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “fraco”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “fraco”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Old Galician-Portuguese

Etymology

Semi-learned borrowing from Latin flaccus (“flaccid”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɾa.ko/

Adjective

fraco m (plural fracos, feminine fraca, feminine plural fracas)

1. weak
   • 1457, J. L. Novo Cazón, editor, El priorato santiaguista de Vilar de Donas en la Edad Media (1194-1500), A Coruña: Fundación Barrié, page 400:

     dixe aos dictos freyres en como eu era e soon ome que paso de ydade de noueenta annos et fraco e inpotente do corpo e çego et algun tanto xordo, por los quaes defeutos et inpidimentos naturaes eu non poso procurar, admenestrar, defender, anparar et gouernar enno spiritual et tenporal o dicto moesteiro

     I told those friars this, that since I was and I am a man that surpasses the age of ninety years, and I am weak and powerless in my body, and blind, and a little deaf, that because of these defects and natural impediments I can not procure, administer, defend, protect and govern in spiritual and temporal matters said monastery

Derived terms

• enfraquecer

Descendants

• Galician: fraco, fraque
• Portuguese: fraco

Further reading

• Universo Cantigas - "fraco"

Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese fraco, a semi-learned borrowing from Latin flaccus (“flaccid”). Compare Galician fraco and Spanish flaco. Doublet of flaco, related to flácido.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɾa.ku/

• Rhymes: -aku
• Hyphenation: fra‧co

Adjective

fraco (feminine fraca, masculine plural fracos, feminine plural fracas, diminutive fraquinho)

1. weak (lacking in force or ability)

   Synonyms: débil, debilitado, enfraquecido, frágil, franzino, fraquete

2. weak (lacking in taste or potency)
3. (colloquial) who cannot handle their drink

   Minha irmã é fraca para bebida. Ela ficou bêbada com duas latas de cerveja.

   My sister is a lightweight. She got drunk off of two beer cans.

Antonyms

• forte, potente

Derived terms

• ponto fraco

Related terms

• enfraquecer
• flácido
• fraquear
• fraquejar
• fraqueza
• fraquinho