• krippix@feddit.org
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    4 months ago

    gratis means free, but only in the sense that it dosen‘t cost money. So it seems like a valid use for the word.

    Is there an english equivalent?

    • idegenszavak@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      Gratis and libre used usually to differenciate the terms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_libre

      Both of them are latin words so I expect they show up in similar forms in most European languages. Free is a Germanic origin word.

      In Hungarian we use the word Gratis as well with Hungarian spelling: “Grátisz” even though Hungarian is not an Indo-European language. Libre is not used in common speech here.

      I don’t get what @Freeman@lemmings.world wanted to say

      • Freeman@lemmings.world
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        4 months ago

        I find it very confusing when german words are used to mean something different that their english counterparts.

        So in english: free ≠ gratis ≠ libre fear ≠ Angst car ≈ Auto (i heard it used for a car with a automatic transmission and also a few years ago as a term for a selfdriving car)

        But also the other way around In Swiss-German: Bus ≠ Car (First one being a trolleybus in a city, second one a bus that takes a schoolclass on a trip.)

        I am aware that words like “gratis” or “auto” are not exclusive to german, I guess that gave me the downvotes.

    • ccdfa@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      Gratuitous can be used to mean the same thing, but English speakers also use gratis

    • Venia Silente@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      Is there an english equivalent?

      Yes: “gratis”.

      English is literally about mugging other languages in a backalley for words (and boning them for grammar). It’s the ISO standard procedure.