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enemigo

e-ne-MÍ-goe.neˈmi.ɣo

“enemigo” means “enemy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

enemy, foe

Also: rival
NounmA2
Mexico
Two stylized cartoon characters standing on opposite sides of a short fence, staring at each other with expressions of opposition.

📝 In Action

Mi equipo de fútbol tiene un gran enemigo en la final.

A2

My soccer team has a great rival in the final.

No puedes confiar en tu enemigo, debes tener cuidado.

B1

You can't trust your enemy; you must be careful.

Lucharon valientemente contra el enemigo común.

B2

They fought bravely against the common enemy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • enemigo público – public enemy
  • enemigo mortal – mortal enemy

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser enemigo de – to hate, to be against (something)

hostile

Also: opposing
A simple storybook illustration of a black cat with its back arched and fur standing up, hissing aggressively.

📝 In Action

Cruzamos la línea a territorio enemigo con mucho cuidado.

B1

We crossed the line into hostile territory very carefully.

Las fuerzas enemigas atacaron al amanecer.

B2

The opposing forces attacked at dawn.

El presidente se mostró enemigo a cualquier tipo de reforma.

C1

The president showed himself opposed to any kind of reform.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • fuerzas enemigas – enemy forces
  • territorio enemigo – hostile territory

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "enemigo" in Spanish:

enemy→foe→hostile→opposing→rival→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: enemigo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'enemigo' as an adjective?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
enemiga(female enemy) — Noun
enemistad(enmity, hostility) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *inimīcus*, which literally meant 'not friendly' (*in-* meaning 'not' and *amicus* meaning 'friend').

First recorded: 13th century (in Romance languages)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: nemicoFrench: ennemi

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'enemigo' only apply to people?

No. While it most often refers to a person or military group, it can also be used figuratively for concepts like 'ignorancia' (ignorance) or 'el tiempo' (time) when they are obstacles or harmful.

How do I say 'enemy territory'?

You use 'territorio enemigo.' Since 'territorio' is a masculine noun, 'enemigo' is used in its masculine form and placed after the noun.