rival
/ree-VAHL/
rival
As a noun, 'rival' means a competitor. This image shows two runners neck and neck in a race.
rival(noun)
rival
?competitor
opponent
?in sports or games
,competitor
?in business or general life
📝 In Action
El equipo perdió contra su rival directo en la final.
A2The team lost against their direct rival in the final.
Ella es mi rival principal por el puesto de trabajo.
B1She is my main competitor for the job position.
Los dos países han sido rivales históricos.
B1The two countries have been historical rivals.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender is Flexible
The word 'rival' itself never changes its ending. To show if the person is male or female, you only change the article: 'el rival' (male competitor) or 'la rival' (female competitor).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'rival' and 'enemigo'
Mistake: "Using 'enemigo' (enemy) when you mean 'rival'."
Correction: A rival is usually someone you compete against fairly (like in sports). An 'enemigo' is someone you have a hostile or hateful relationship with. They are not always the same!
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Competition
Use 'rival' when the relationship is defined by a contest or competition for the same goal (a prize, a job, a championship).
The adjective form of 'rival' describes something that is competing, like the two teams in this tug-of-war.
📝 In Action
La empresa lanzó un producto rival para capturar ese mercado.
B1The company launched a rival product to capture that market.
Tuvimos que analizar la estrategia rival antes del debate.
B2We had to analyze the opposing strategy before the debate.
Las fuerzas rivales se enfrentaron en la frontera.
C1The rival forces faced each other at the border.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Invariable
As an adjective, 'rival' is one of those helpful words that never changes its ending—not for male/female nouns, and not even for plurals! It's always 'rival' (singular) or 'rivales' (plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Gender Agreement
Mistake: "Saying 'una estrategia rivala'."
Correction: The correct form is 'una estrategia rival'. Since 'rival' ends in 'l', it is an adjective that stays the same regardless of the noun's gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
When used as an adjective, 'rival' almost always comes after the noun it describes: 'el equipo rival' (the rival team).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rival
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'rival' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'rival' change its ending for male or female competitors?
No. The word 'rival' itself is the same whether you are talking about a man or a woman. You only change the word that comes before it (the article): 'el rival' (the male competitor) or 'la rival' (the female competitor).