01
feindlich
hostile
Relating to an enemy in a war, battle, or conflict; opposing.
example
Die Soldaten überquerten die feindlichen Linien bei Nacht.
The soldiers crossed the hostile lines at night.
feindlich
hostile
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'feindlich' (hostile) is derived directly from the noun 'der Feind' (the enemy). The ending '-lich' turns the noun into an adjective and means something like 'like an enemy' or 'belonging to the enemy.'
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Länder hatten lange Zeit eine feindliche Beziehung.
The two countries had a hostile relationship for a long time.
Dative construction
To express toward whom a hostile attitude exists, the preposition 'gegenüber' (toward) is often used with the dative. Another fixed expression is 'jemandem feindlich gesinnt sein' (to be hostile toward someone), also with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er war dem neuen Kollegen von Anfang an feindlich gesinnt.
He was hostile toward the new colleague from the very beginning.
Compounds with -feindlich
The word '-feindlich' (-hostile) is often used as the second part of compound adjectives to express that something is harmful or unfavorable to a particular thing. Typical examples are 'lebensfeindlich' (hostile to life), 'umweltfeindlich' (environmentally harmful), or 'kinderfeindlich' (unfriendly to children).
EXAMPLE
Eine Politik, die Familien benachteiligt, wird als kinderfeindlich kritisiert.
A policy that disadvantages families is criticized as unfriendly to children.
Typical collocations
In a military or economic context, 'feindlich' (hostile) is often combined with certain nouns. Common combinations are 'feindliche Truppen' (enemy troops), 'feindliches Gebiet' (enemy territory), or, in business, 'eine feindliche Übernahme' (a hostile takeover).
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen konnte die feindliche Übernahme erfolgreich abwehren.
The company was able to successfully fend off the hostile takeover.
Compare with
feindlich vs freundlich
friendly
'freundlich' and 'feindlich' both describe an attitude toward other people. 'freundlich' means nice, pleasant, and helpful behavior. 'feindlich' is the opposite: it shows rejection, coldness, or even aggression. When someone is 'freundlich', you feel welcome. When someone is 'feindlich', you are more likely to feel attacked or not accepted.
feindlich
Nach dem Streit war die Stimmung in der Familie plötzlich feindlich.
After the argument, the mood in the family suddenly became hostile.
freundlich
Der Fahrer im Bus war sehr freundlich, als ich nach dem Weg gefragt habe.
The bus driver was very friendly when I asked for directions.
In real life
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