Tegensteam

Tegensteam is a Dutch noun that refers to the opposing team in a competition or match. It is used in sports, esports, and other competitive contexts to denote the group on the other side of a contest.

Etymology and usage: the term combines tegen, meaning against, with team, a word borrowed from English. It is a relatively common, informal way to speak about the other side in a game or match. The phrase typically refers to the team as a unit rather than to individual players.

Grammatical notes: the standard definite form is het tegenteam. Plural usage exists but is less common; speakers may say tegenteams or, more often, simply refer to the other team or to de tegenstander when talking about individuals within the opposing side. In many contexts, especially formal reporting, zullen journalists prefer "het tegenstander" or "het andere team" to avoid ambiguity.

Nuance and related terms: tegenteam emphasizes the group as a unit, whereas tegenstander or tegenpartij highlights the individual opponent or the opposing side in a broader sense. Both terms can be used interchangeably in casual speech, but tegenstander is more common for individuals and in many written contexts.

Voorbeelden: "Het tegenteam speelde sterk in de eerste helft." "We moeten ons tegenteam goed bestuderen voor de wedstrijd." "Het andere team zet een agressieve tactiek in." See also: tegenstander, tegenpartij, opponent.