01
der Erzfeind
archenemy
The worst or most important enemy of a person, group, or nation; a main opponent.
example
In der Geschichte waren Rom und Karthago erbitterte Erzfeinde.
In history, Rome and Carthage were bitter archenemies.
der Erzfeind
archenemy
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word consists of the prefix 'Erz-' and the noun 'Feind' (enemy). The prefix 'Erz-' intensifies the base word and means something like 'chief' or 'most important'. You can also find it in words like 'Erzengel' (archangel) or 'Erzbischof' (archbishop).
EXAMPLE
Für den Detektiv war der Professor sein интеллектуаeller Erzfeind.
For the detective, the professor was his intellectual archenemy.
Usage pattern
'Erzfeind' (archenemy) is often used with a possessive pronoun ('sein Erzfeind' — his archenemy) or with the preposition 'von' (of) to clarify the relationship.
EXAMPLE
Der Superheld kämpft gegen seinen Erzfeind.
The superhero fights against his archenemy.
Context clue
The word is often used in fictional contexts such as books, films, and comics. But it can also be used figuratively for major rivals in politics or sports.
EXAMPLE
In vielen Geschichten hat der Held einen schlauen Erzfeind.
In many stories, the hero has a clever archenemy.
Compare with
Erzfeind vs Freund
friend / boyfriend
'der Freund' and 'der Erzfeind' are strong opposites. A friend is someone with whom you have a good and close relationship. An archenemy, on the other hand, is not just an enemy, but the most important or worst opponent. 'Freund' fits trust and closeness, while 'Erzfeind' fits strong conflict and opposition. 'Erzfeind' often sounds more dramatic than simply 'Feind'.
Erzfeind
In der Geschichte kämpft der Held am Ende gegen seinen Erzfeind.
In the story, the hero fights his archenemy at the end.
Freund
Als ich krank war, hat mir ein guter Freund beim Einkaufen geholfen.
When I was sick, a good friend helped me with the shopping.
In real life
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