der  Frack

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fʁak/

🎩 What exactly is a 'Frack'?

The German word der Frack (noun, masculine) refers to very formal evening wear for men, specifically a tailcoat. Its characteristic feature is the jacket, which is waist-length at the front and extends into two long, pointed tails at the back, known in German as Schwalbenschwänze ('swallow tails'). It is typically worn for highly official occasions such as state banquets, opera balls, or very formal weddings (often specified by the 'White Tie' dress code).

⚠️ Do not confuse it with the Smoking (tuxedo or dinner jacket), which is also formal evening wear but has a different jacket style and corresponds to the 'Black Tie' dress code.

🧐 Grammar: 'Der Frack' in Detail

The word 'Frack' is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

• Der Bräutigam trug einen eleganten Frack. (The groom wore an elegant tailcoat.)
• Zum Wiener Opernball ist das Tragen eines Fracks für Herren Pflicht. (Wearing a tailcoat is mandatory for gentlemen at the Vienna Opera Ball.)
• Die Pinguine sehen aus, als würden sie kleine Fräcke tragen. (The penguins look like they are wearing little tailcoats.)
• Er lieh sich für den Ball einen Frack aus. (He borrowed a tailcoat for the ball.)

👔 When to wear a 'Frack'?

The Frack (tailcoat) is the most formal evening attire and is only worn for special, usually festive, evening occasions. Typical events include:

• Highly official balls (e.g., opera balls)
• State receptions and banquets
• Very formal weddings (often with the dress code 'White Tie' or 'Großer Gesellschaftsanzug')
• Sometimes worn by conductors or musicians in classical orchestras

In comparison, the Smoking ('Black Tie' - tuxedo/dinner jacket) is less formal than the Frack, but still evening wear for festive occasions like galas, premieres, or upscale parties.

Colloquially, sometimes any formal suit is mistakenly called a 'Frack', but in correct usage, it specifically refers to the suit with the tailcoat jacket.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

1. Remembering the Article: Think of a formal gentleman, perhaps a 'Freiherr' (a German title of nobility, sounds a bit like Frack), who wears it. Freiherr suggests der.
2. Remembering the Meaning: Imagine the 'tails' at the back 'flapping' like a bird's tail. Or picture a penguin, which looks like it's wearing a Frack.

Imagine a penguin asking 'What's the dress code?' - 'Der Frack, Jack!'

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse with Smoking (tuxedo/dinner jacket, which is less formal) or a regular Anzug (suit, for daytime or less formal evening events).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum tragen Pinguine Fräcke?
Weil sie sich keinen Smoking leisten können!

English: Why do penguins wear tailcoats (Fräcke)?
Because they can't afford tuxedos (Smoking)!

📜 A 'Frack' Poem

German:
Der Frack, so schwarz, so elegant,
mit Schwalbenschwanz, wohlbekannt.
Zur Gala, Oper, hohem Fest,
zeigt er dem Anlass seinen Respekt.
Ein weißes Hemd, die Fliege rein,
so tritt der Herr im Glanz herein.

English:
The tailcoat, so black, so elegant,
With swallowtail, well-known, relevant.
For galas, operas, high feasts grand,
It shows respect throughout the land.
A crisp white shirt, the bow tie neat,
Thus enters the gentleman, oh so sweet.

🧩 Who or what am I?

German:
Ich kleide Herren sehr adrett,
bin schwarz und schick auf dem Parkett.
Hab hinten Spitzen, lang und schmal,
man trägt mich meist zum Opernball.

Was bin ich?(Lösung: der Frack)

English:
I dress gentlemen very smartly,
I'm black and chic on the dance floor, partly.
I have points at the back, long and narrow,
You usually wear me to the opera ball, like an arrow.

What am I?(Answer: der Frack / the tailcoat)

💡 More about 'der Frack'

Word Origin: The word 'Frack' originates from the French 'frac', which initially referred to a type of casual frock coat. Only later did it evolve to mean the formal evening tailcoat.

Cultural Significance: In Western men's fashion, the Frack (tailcoat) is considered the epitome of elegance and highest formality. Wearing it signals a special occasion and respect for the host or the event.