enemigo
/eneˈmiɡo/masculine
The Spanish word for enemy is enemigo.
enemigo refers to someone who is hostile toward another, feels hatred, opposes someone's interests or intends to cause injury. In certain contexts, the word rival can also be used to refer to an enemy.
Meaning: someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else (noun)
Which one should you use?
While enemigo refers to a person, the term adversario is often used in more formal or competitive settings, such as sports or debates, to mean an opponent.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term némesis is often used figuratively to describe a person who is considered an enemy or an arch-rival.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is enemigo. To refer to a female enemy, use the feminine form enemiga. For a plural group of male enemies or a mixed group of males and females, use enemigos. If the group consists entirely of female enemies, use enemigas.
How do you pronounce it?
/eneˈmiɡo/
When do people say it?
For a humorous touch, people sometimes use El/La Grinch to refer to someone who is seen as an enemy or someone who lacks holiday spirit.
Did you know?
- Etymologically, an enemigo is actually a 'non-friend'. The word is derived from the Latin amīcus, meaning 'friend', by adding a prefix that negates it.
- While in English an 'enemy' might be a casual opponent, calling someone an enemigo in Spanish can carry an extremely heavy, serious weight, often implying a deep and long-standing grudge.
- In certain Spanish literary traditions, an enemigo is not just a person you dislike, but can represent a personification of a character's own internal flaws or fate.
Examples in context
- No soy tu enemigo.I am not your enemy.This sentence shows how to deny being an enemigo.Tatoeba #1841309 by marcelostockle, translation #1841275 by Spamster
- Tom es mi enemigo.Tom is my enemy.This sentence shows how to identify someone as an enemigo.Tatoeba #2343137 by hayastan, translation #2273302 by CK
- Tú eres mi enemigo.You're my enemy.This sentence shows how to address someone as an enemigo.Tatoeba #3842999 by cueyayotl, translation #2549405 by CK
- 137 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing a conflict with a coworker.
- ElenaCreo que él es mi enemigo ahora.I think he is my enemy now.
- DanielNo creo que Daniel sea tu enemigo.I don't think Daniel is your enemy.
- ElenaPero él siempre intenta perjudicarme.But he always tries to harm me.
- DanielQuizás solo sea un malentendido.Maybe it is just a misunderstanding.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enemy” translations and entries enemigo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries enemigo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
