vragi

Vragi is the transliterated plural of the Russian noun vrag, meaning enemy or foe. In contemporary Russian, враги (vragi) refers to multiple adversaries, which can be individuals, groups, or abstract opponents in contexts such as politics, sports, or war. The term appears in journalism, literature, and everyday speech and can carry neutral or hostile connotations depending on context. A well-known historical phrase is враг народа (enemy of the people), used in Soviet-era discourse to label political opponents or perceived threats.

Etymology and cognates: The word originates from Proto-Slavic *vragъ and has cognates across Slavic languages with related forms and meanings. In many Slavic languages, the root broadly conveys the idea of an opponent or adversary. In some South Slavic sources, vrag may also denote a demon or malevolent spirit in folklore, which can influence metaphorical or literary usage. In those cases the plural form vragi can refer to evil beings, whereas in modern Russian usage it most commonly denotes human adversaries.

Usage notes: The term vragi is neutral in itself but carries strong emotional charge when used about real or perceived opponents. It is commonly used in formal rhetoric to describe hostile actors, in history and political analysis, and in fiction to depict antagonists. While primarily a straightforward term for enemies, context determines whether it functions as a factual descriptor or a value-laden label.