neighbours

Neighbours is a term used to refer to people who live near one another in a community. It encompasses individuals on adjacent properties, residents of the same street, or members of a broader neighborhood. Neighbourliness is a quality in social life, characterized by courtesy, mutual aid, and regular, nonintrusive interaction. Healthy neighbourly relations are linked to safety, social support, and a sense of belonging within a locality.

Spelling differences reflect regional usage. In British and Commonwealth English, the adjective and noun are spelled neighbour and neighbourhood, derived from Old English neahgebura meaning a near dweller, with the form evolving through Middle English. In American English, neighbour is spelled neighbor and neighbourhood becomes neighborhood. The noun can also refer to any person living near another, or collectively to the inhabitants of a district.

Beyond daily contact, neighbourhood structures influence urban planning, social policy, and community programs. Practices such as block watches, local associations, and zoning rules shape how people experience proximity. Legal and ethical norms often address privacy, nuisance, and the right to quiet enjoyment of property while balancing the benefits of social proximity.

Neighbours can also refer to the Australian soap opera Neighbours, which began in 1985 and is set in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough. The program has achieved international broadcast and has been instrumental in launching the careers of several actors. The use of the title in popular culture reflects the centrality of community relationships in contemporary media.