Feind
/faɪ̯nt/masculine
The German word for enemy is Feind. Wiktionary also lists Feindin and Gegner.
Meaning: someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Feind | /faɪ̯nt/ | masculine |
| Feindin | /ˈfaɪ̯ndɪn/ | feminine |
| Gegner | /ˈɡeːɡnɐ/ /ˈɡeːknɐ/ |
masculine |
The term refers to someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of or intends injury to someone else.
Which one should you use?
Feind is a strong, personal term that implies deep hatred or a desire to cause harm. In contrast, Gegner is a neutral term used for an opponent or adversary in a game, debate or competition, often referring to professional or structural opposition.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Feind is Feinde. If you are referring specifically to female enemies, the plural of the feminine form Feindin is Feindinnen.
How do you pronounce it?
/faɪ̯nt/
Did you know?
- The German word Feind is a linguistic relative of the English word 'fiend', which today describes a demon or a wicked person.
- The distinction between Gegner and Feind is essentially the difference between a sporting match and a blood feud.
- Calling a business rival a Feind in a German office would sound incredibly dramatic, as if you were declaring a personal vendetta rather than a professional disagreement.
Examples in context
- Er ist mein Feind.He is my enemy.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as a Feind.Tatoeba #8841491 by wolfgangth, translation #2801117 by CM
- Du bist der Feind.You're the enemy.Tatoeba #9969436 by Yorwba, translation #2549173 by CK
- Du bist mein Feind.You're my enemy.Tatoeba #2657488 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2549405 by CK
- Der Feind greift uns aus dem Westen an.The enemy is attacking us from the west.
- Er betrachtet sie als seinen Feind.He considers her his enemy.
- Die beiden Länder haben eine lange Geschichte als Feinde.The two countries have a long history as enemies.
- Ich kann nicht glauben, dass er mein Gegner geworden ist.I can't believe he has become my enemy.
- Die beiden Teams sind starke Gegner auf dem Spielfeld.The two teams are strong opponents on the field.
- Er ist mein politischer Gegner.He is my political adversary.
- 234 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are discussing a historical conflict.
- HannahWer war der größte Feind des Kaisers?Who was the emperor's greatest enemy?
- LukasDas war wohl sein ehemaliger Verbündeter.That was probably his former ally.
- HannahEin Feind aus den eigenen Reihen ist gefährlich.An enemy from within one's own ranks is dangerous.
- LukasDa hast du absolut recht, Hannah.You are absolutely right about that, Hannah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enemy” translations and entries Feind, Feindin, Gegner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Feind, Feindin, Gegner, feind, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
