The following NPC groups founded after Gamma Phi Beta are fraternities as well:

Alpha Gamma Delta (1904)
Alpha Omicron Pi (1897)
Alpha Xi Delta (1893)
Chi Omega (1895)
Delta Delta Delta (1888)
Phi Sigma Sigma (1913)
Zeta Tau Alpha (1898)

And, we were taught the reasoning for us being a Fraternity is that the word Sorority is Latin based, but the word Fraternity is Greek based. Since we are a Greek Letter Organization, then it made sense to use the Greek based term. When I look up each on dictionary.com though, it says fraternity is based on Middle English and sorority is based on Latin.

As far as I know, in Greek, adelfh - "adelphay" is sister and adelfon - "adelphon" is brother.

In Latin, "frater" is brother and "soror" (or "amita" - but that has some other connotation that I can't remember) is sister.

Anyone, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I recall something about Phrater (in Greek) meaning clansmen or something totally random like that, but I might be remembering poorly.
Anyways, Phi Mu is a fraternity too and we even have a song that begins: "We're the Phi Mu Frat" -I didn't like it when I pledged, but I'm used to it now, although I think it must sound negative and confusing to people who don't know any different.

Then I guess Im out, cos there were Jewish women among our founding 10.

Take some time to actually LOOK at the name of the poster who posted "I mean the ones that matter"

:rolleyes:

I think she was being sarcastic!

Very sarcastic....

Saying the word "frat" in any context should be hazed out of fraternity men.

I don't really have that much of a problem with girls using it though.

...

Do you have some sort of inferiority complex? I honestly care very, very little about whether or not your little GLOBLTOMGWTFBBQ? is a fraternity or sorority. Shut up.

and you wouldn't, balanced man.

ilikehazing, I really recommend that you don't use words or terms that you don't understand. Inferiority complex, as a term, is used to describe a condition of the mind in which a person feels the need to be validated by others. I'm not asking for your validation or concern, I'm addressing the fact that you decided a very broad issue as though your opinion were the un-challengeable truth. What matters to you, does not necessarily matter to everyone, nor does what matters to me. I just sought to point that out. However, you seem to be unable to comprehend complex ideas, so I'll put this as simply as possible for you. For something to NOT MATTER, it must be proven that it has no effect on anything, ever. Now, it may not matter to you, but that is JUST YOU.

Oh, and by the way, "shut up," is the most MATURE response I've ever come across... :rolleyes:

I believe one of the men of Psi have already posted on here, but...

It is neither unusual (or derogatory) for a man of Psi to call his fellow Brother "Frat". The phrase "frat boy" has never been applied to us (at least in my experience) and I don't remember hearing it during my undergrad (HBCU) years...

The English "Fraternity" and "Sorority" are both derived from Latin -- frater is "brother" in Latin.

preciousjeni is right that the Greek for brother is adelfon - adelphon; although there is another Greek word also meaning brother: frathr -- phrater. This is the root of the word phratry that BabyPiNK_FL is remembering. In ancient Greece, tribes (phyles) were divided into phratries, which can be translated as kinfolk, clansmen, or (loosely) brotherhood.

Frathr, frater, and even the English "brother" and the German bruder all ultimately derive from the Indo-European root bhrater, which means "brother."

Only in the views of some drone WASPs.

When I was in a fraternity I always refered to it as a fraternity. However I met a few pikes who call it a frat just in common usage, and I have met a Phi Psi who called his house a frat...so I guess it depends who you're talking too. I've heard "You wouldn't call your country a cunt so don't call my fraternity a frat", than again I've talked to some people who say it doesn't matter and liken it to calling a refrigerator a fridge.

We use the term frat only in a joking manner...For example, drunk at football games "yall leaving" "yeah man, we're goin back to the FRAT house!" Or someone walks in the house and says something dumb like "WHATS UP FRAT BROTHERS?"
You'd never find someone using the term to somebody not in a greek organization, its just kind of a funny thing to say about the lameasses who use that term in seriousness.

On another note, there has been a lot of discussion about the "frat boy" image. Note that this is different in other places. For minority fraternities, I don't have a clue where it comes into play. In some parts of the country frat or fratty would be abercrombie cargo pants, spiked hair, and a untucked shirt with a popped collar. Unfortunately, many people view them as frat boys, or even worse, "fratty."
The actual "fratty" image, which is mostly a joke, but also has some truth, refers to southern fraternity guys. It generally involves sailing, fishing, golf, etc. We will use the term fratty on occassion, most often in rush..."that _____ kid was pretty fratty," implying that he was capable in social situations, was from a good background, and presented himself well.