enemigo
/eˈne.mi.ɣo/noun★Beginner
general
A person, group, or entity that is hostile or opposed to someone or something.
Los dos países han sido enemigos durante décadas.
The two countries have been enemies for decades.
El equipo de fútbol jugó contra su mayor enemigo.
The soccer team played against their biggest rival.
💡
Can refer to individuals, groups, or abstract concepts (e.g., 'el enemigo del progreso' = 'the enemy of progress').
Collocations
enemigo públicopublic enemyenemigo naturalnatural enemyenemigo comúncommon enemy
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
hacerse el enemigophrase
to act like an enemy
el enemigo de mi enemigo es mi amigoproverb
the enemy of my enemy is my friend
💡Pro Tip
Gender Agreement
'Enemigo' is masculine; use 'enemiga' for female enemies (e.g., 'la enemiga').
⚡Gold Rule
Context Matters
In military contexts, 'enemigo' is formal; in sports, 'rival' may be more appropriate.
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'inimicus', meaning 'not friendly'.
📝Usage Notes
In modern usage, 'enemigo' is often used metaphorically to describe abstract opposition (e.g., 'el enemigo del cambio' = 'the enemy of change').
Word Breakdown
en-
not
prefix-emigo
friend
rootDiccionario Español-Inglés