neprijatelja

Neprijatelja is a noun form used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Montenegrin. It designates an enemy and is the genitive singular of neprijatelj (enemy). The term is formed with the negating prefix ne- attached to prijatelj, meaning “friend,” so it literally translates to “not a friend.”

In standard grammar, neprijatelj is a masculine noun; neprijatelja is its genitive singular and is frequently found after prepositions or as a complement in clauses, as in od neprijatelja (from the enemy) or bez neprijatelja (without an enemy). The form also appears in other cases and numbers according to the language’s declension patterns.

Beyond its literal sense, neprijatelja is widely used in political discourse, historical narratives, sports rivalries, and literature to denote a rival or opposing force. It can carry connotations of hostility or opposition but does not inherently imply violence. The term is commonly paired with phrases like neprijatelj broj jedan (enemy number one) to emphasize priority or severity of the opposition.

Related terms include neprijatelj (enemy), neprijateljstvo (enmity), and prijatelj (friend). The word is widely recognized across the region and appears in standard dictionaries and contemporary corpus texts. When translating to English, closest equivalents are enemy or foe, depending on context.