Prójimo

Prójimo is a Spanish noun meaning “neighbor” or “fellow human being.” In everyday usage it can refer to a person who is nearby, but in moral and religious contexts it denotes other people in general, emphasizing an ethical relationship rather than mere proximity. The phrase amar al prójimo expresses the obligation to treat others with compassion and justice.

Etymology: The word comes from Latin proximus, meaning “nearest” or “closest,” transmitted into Spanish with the form prójimo. The accent indicates the stress on the first syllable. It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese próximo and Italian prossimo.

Usage and context: In Christian ethics, especially within Catholic and Protestant traditions, el prójimo appears as the object of love and charitable action. It figures prominently in biblical translations and sermons, as in the commandment to amar al prójimo como a ti mismo. In modern Spanish, vecino is often used for a literal neighbor, while prójimo retains a more formal or moral tone and is common in literature, theology, and discussions of social responsibility.

See also: Golden Rule; neighbor; charity; social ethics.