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rival
/riˈβal/
competitor or opponent
El equipo tiene un fuerte rival en la liga.
The team has a strong rival in the league.
general
A person or group that competes with another in a contest, game, or for a position or prize.
Los dos hermanos son rivales en los negocios.
The two brothers are rivals in business.
El nuevo producto es un rival directo de nuestro mejor vendedor.
The new product is a direct rival to our bestseller.
The term can be used in both friendly and hostile contexts, depending on the relationship between the competitors.
informal
A person or thing that is in competition with another for the affections of a third party, especially in a romantic context.
Ella siempre ha sido mi rival en el amor.
She has always been my rival in love.
This usage is less common and often carries a negative connotation.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The word 'rival' can be used in both positive and negative contexts, so pay attention to the tone of the sentence.
Gold Rule
Competition vs. Conflict
While 'rival' implies competition, it does not necessarily imply hostility. Use 'enemy' for more intense conflict.
Word Origin
From Latin 'rīvālis', meaning 'of the same brook', originally referring to neighbors who shared a water source and thus had a competitive relationship.
Usage Notes
The term is commonly used in sports, business, and politics to describe a competitor. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any form of competition.
Word Breakdown
riv-
brook or stream
root-al
pertaining to
suffixDiccionario Español-Inglés