Nathaniel2 (asker) May 13, 2014:

Oh, I've interpreted it quite correctly and I know the context and everything else involved, as well as the target audience. My only problem is that elusive word or phrase in English that somehow won't come to my mind. I never intended to start a debate, just wanted a few suggestions. But thanks to everyone anyway

Pavel Slama May 13, 2014:

I think you face double trouble there. First you need to interpret correctly (ie understand) the meaning in a particular context, and it would differ depending on situation, speaker's age, background, etc. Subsequently you have to interpret it for particular audience, choosing from words familiar to them.

Did you have something particular in mind?

Maria Chmelarova May 13, 2014:

Nathaniel why don't let us know, what is the context. Would help us too, to help YOU.. M.

Nathaniel2 (asker) May 13, 2014:

It seems that aside from the obvious boyfriend the options are too numerous and all depend on context, and even then the options seem endless. Ladies' man comes to mind, but not for my context.

Pavel Slama May 11, 2014:

Found a quote that gives a very plausible clue as to how the 4 distinct meanings (style, attitude, partner, promiscuous behaviour) are connected:

To, jestli je chlap frajer nebo ne, neposuzuje ten chlap sám, ale opět ženy. Zkuste sbalit ženskou, když vám z očí čouhá, že už jste si rok „nevrznul,“ že se jaksi nechytáte a že až vám některá konečně „dá“, budete ji milovat až za hrob a nikdy ji neopustíte – sotva si můžete podříznout větev spolehlivěji. Jo, ale zato když z vás vyhlédnutá krasavice vycítí, že v žádném případě netrpíte nedostatkem žen a že když budete chtít, sbalíte si místo ní klidně jinou, je okamžitě vaše – protože jste frajer. Výmluvný je i ostatně etymologický původ slova frajer – der Freier je německy záletník.
-- http://www.stridavka.cz/nahota-feminismu-cast-32.html

Hannah Geiger (X) May 11, 2014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L7VKR0xfW4

Hannah Geiger (X) May 11, 2014:

I remember a British show called From Ladette to a Lady, the girls were really plain and swore quite a bit and, all in all, made a rather clumsy impression
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ladette

Stuart Hoskins May 11, 2014:

ladette Trying to steer a course back to Nathaniel’s request for a non-girlfriend translation, how about toying with the idea of ladette (not sure if this is only British)? It’s not quite there, but might serve as inspiration…

Hannah Geiger (X) May 11, 2014:

Myslím, že moje stará a frajerka je rozdíl. Stará ve smyslu the old lady or my old man etc. je už prostě někdo s kým je člověk dlouho, zná ho jako ....etc etc. Frajerka nebo frajer ve smyslu moje frajerka je spíše namlouvání a chození spolu, romance atd. Jistě že když někdo řekne moje stará tak v tom tak moc romantiky není, s tímhle výrazem pro manželku je to spíše the good old... (whathever) IMO

Vladimír Hoffman May 11, 2014:

2 Hannah Nedávno som videl seriál z motorkárskeho prostredia (US) a tam používal "old lady". V titulkoch to bolo doslovne ako "stará" (to je moja stará), ale frajerka by sa dalo tiež.

Hannah Geiger (X) May 11, 2014:

As some others have already insinuated, it really depends on the context. It can be SOMEONE's frajer/ka, which, in my view, is the one used most often; then a frajer who can be a bit of a lady killer, ladies' man, etc., and then also the type of a "dandy". As to the Scrappers, I don't know if it was somebody's frajer z Brooklynu or just a frajer z Brooklynu, but IMO that is where the difference might be.
http://slovnik-cizich-slov.abz.cz/web.php/slovo/frajer

Nathaniel2 (asker) May 11, 2014:

on the EPG today there was a show called Scrappers and the Czech translation was 'frajeri z brooklynu'. Tough question, I guess.

Pavel Slama May 9, 2014:

So basically in Czech the three distinct meanings we've already mentioned. In Slovak, however, my dictionary offers a curious additional meaning, frajer (=frajerkár) - womanizer. Never heard that one.

Hannah Geiger (X) May 9, 2014:

I have always understood it in a sense similar to this
http://slovnik-cizich-slov.abz.cz/web.php/slovo/frajer
and certainly would use it in this sense.
I have had the opportunity to translate the word 'frajerka', but it was for an American audience. The slang "the main squeeze" is not used in the UK. In my translation, it actually fit very well.
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/main-...

Gerry Vickers May 9, 2014:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/188751454462/permalink/10151...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/188751454462/permalink/10150...

Gerry Vickers May 9, 2014:

This thread came up on the facebook Czechlist a while ago - you should check it out.

Stuart Hoskins May 9, 2014:

http://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/freier

Gerry Vickers May 9, 2014:

Yes - and it has the same meaning in Hebrew as the Polish meaning.Presumably it must have come across via Yiddish

Stuart Hoskins May 9, 2014:

And in Polish it seems to have another meaning still. Interesting. http://glosbe.com/pl/en/frajer

Pavel Slama May 9, 2014:

Yeah, as in "you are the dude"?

Good point, in Czech/Slovak the first meaning on your mind would differ, Jan's/Gerry's suggestion respectivelly.

Gerry Vickers May 9, 2014:

It has a slightly different meaning in Czech, where it is exclusively jack the lad - my (Slovak) wife immediately said 'boyfriend', and that is what I know it as as well, but is can also be a bit of a vagabond, someone who tries to be cool, as in 'robiť frajerčinu'

Pavel Slama May 9, 2014:

Has anyone seen Big Lebowski with cz subs? I'd personally consider frajer, if I was translating it. (For dude, obviously.)

Stuart Hoskins May 9, 2014:

When I think about it, I usually hear this (in Czech, from my wife) when I’m being a clever dick (stress on the dick). I also hear it from my mother-in-law when I’m “lookin’ good”. Have also heard it as Jan's suggestion (bit of a lad).

Stuart Hoskins May 9, 2014:

Crikey. Usually something like smart-ass, but really depends on the context (sometimes even can even be sassy).