عدو
ʕadu/ʕa.duww/Egyptian Arabic, masculine
The Arabic word for enemy is عدو (ʕadu). Wiktionary also lists عَدُوّ (ʕaduww) and عَدُوَّة (ʕaduwwa).
Meaning: someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| عدو | ʕadu | /ʕa.duww/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| عَدُوّ | ʕaduww | masculine | |
| عَدُوَّة | ʕaduwwa | feminine |
The term is used to describe someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of or intends injury to someone else.
Which one should you use?
عَدُوّ is the standard masculine form, while عَدُوَّة is the specific feminine form used to refer to a female enemy.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the masculine form عدو is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the masculine noun عدو is أعداء.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ʕa.duww/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word عدو is a root-based word, meaning it is part of a family of words that share a semantic core of 'running' or 'striding'. This links the idea of an enemy to the energy or movement involved in a confrontation.
- In Arabic poetry, a 'noble enemy' is often praised for their honesty and chivalry, contrasting with a 'traitorous friend'. This creates a cultural archetype where an open عدو is more respected than a fake ally.
- In some classical texts, the word عدو is used to describe the 'internal enemy' or the lower self, treating one's own desires as a hostile force to be conquered.
Examples in context
- إعرف عدوك وإعرف نفسك.Know your enemy and know yourself.This sentence uses عدو to demonstrate a common proverb about knowing one's opponent.Tatoeba #3665765 by Shereen, translation #4036837 by eeyinn
- انا لست عدوك. انا صديقك.I'm not your enemy. I'm your friend.This sentence uses عدو to contrast the role of an enemy with that of a friend.Tatoeba #6877001 by adals, translation #6325826 by Hybrid
- عدوّ عدوّي صديقي.The enemy of my enemy is my friend.This sentence uses عدو to illustrate a common social principle regarding allies.Tatoeba #7238359 by OsoHombre, translation #1517827 by Spamster
- العدو الحقيقي للتنمية هو الفقر.The real enemy of development is poverty.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are discussing a difficult person at work.
- نور Nourهو بيتعامل معاك كأنك عدو.howa beyet3amel ma3ak ka'annak adu.He treats you as if you are an enemy.
- يوسف Youssefفعلاً، أنا مش عارف عملت له إيه.fe3lan, ana mesh 3aref 3amalt lo eh.Indeed, I don't know what I did to him.
- نور Nourمتحاولش تخليه عدو ليك في الشغل.mat-hawelsh tekhalleeh adu leek fel shoghl.Don't try to make him an enemy of yours at work.
- يوسف Youssefعندك حق، هحاول أصالحُه.3andak haq, hahawel asaleho.You're right, I'll try to make peace with him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enemy” translations and entries عدو, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
