fraternize

English

WOTD – 6 July 2006

Alternative forms

fraternise (non-Oxford British spelling, used in many Commonwealth countries but not Canada)

Etymology

From French fraterniser.

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹætənɑɪz/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹætɚnɑɪz/
Audio (US) (file)
Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

fraternize (third-person singular simple present fraternizes, present participle fraternizing, simple past and past participle fraternized)

(intransitive) To associate with others in a brotherly or friendly manner.
(intransitive) To associate as friends with an enemy, in violation of duty.
(intransitive) To have an intimate or sexual relationship with a forbidden member of the opposite sex; as, in some cases, football players with cheerleaders.

Related terms

frat
fraternal
fraternity
fraternisation / fraternization
fraternizing
fratricide

Translations

to associate with others in a brotherly manner

Bulgarian: побратимявам се (pobratimjavam se)
Catalan: fraternitzar (ca)
Esperanto: interfratiĝi
Finnish: veljeillä (fi)
French: fraterniser (fr)
German: sich verbrüdern (de)

Maori: whakauruuru
Polish: bratać się (pl), zbratać się (pl)
Romanian: fraterniza (ro), înfrăți (ro)
Russian: брататься (ru) (bratatʹsja)
Spanish: fraternizar (es)
Swedish: förbrödra (sv) (reflexive)

to associate as friends with an enemy

Finnish: veljeillä (fi)
French: fraterniser (fr)

German: fraternisieren (de)
Swedish: fraternisera (sv)