दुश्मन (dushman)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'enemy'; also used adjectivally in fixed phrases like दुश्मन देश (dushman desh, 'enemy country') without changing form.
Sense 1 : enemy, foe
noun, masculine
Synonyms: शत्रु (shatru, formal), विरोधी (virodhii, opponent/rival), दुश्मन (see word)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: दुश्मन (dushman) comes from Persian and carries real emotional weight in everyday Hindi -- it is not used lightly for someone you merely disagree with. You will hear it often in the context of family feuds, old grudges, or dramatic Bollywood dialogue about honor and revenge, as well as in political and military speech about national enemies.
Common Mistakes: 1) दुश्मन (dushman) is grammatically masculine even when referring to a woman; the word itself does not change, but agreement elsewhere in the sentence follows context, not the referent's gender directly on this noun. 2) Learners sometimes reach for विरोधी (virodhii) when they mean a mere rival or opponent (in sports, politics, debate) -- दुश्मन (dushman) is stronger, implying real hostility or hatred, not just competition.
Sample Sentences:
वह देश का सबसे बड़ा दुश्मन है। He is the country's biggest enemy.
(vah desh kaa sabse badaa dushman hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उन दोनों भाइयों ने एक-दूसरे को अपना दुश्मन बना लिया। The two brothers turned each other into their own enemies.
(un donon bhaaiyon ne ek-doosre ko apnaa dushman banaa liyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरा कोई दुश्मन नहीं है, फिर भी लोग मुझसे जलते हैं। I don't have any enemy, yet people are jealous of me.
(meraa koii dushman nahiin hai, phir bhii log mujhse jalte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सेना दुश्मन की सीमा में घुस चुकी थी। The army had already entered enemy territory.
(senaa dushman kii siimaa men ghus chukii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम ऐसा करोगे तो लोग तुम्हें अपना दुश्मन समझने लगेंगे। If you do this, people will start considering you their enemy.
(agar tum aisaa karoge to log tumhen apnaa dushman samajhne lagenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश वह मेरा दुश्मन न होता, हम अच्छे दोस्त बन सकते थे। If only he weren't my enemy, we could have become good friends.
(kaash vah meraa dushman n hotaa, ham achchhe dost ban sakte the।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दुश्मन को कभी कमज़ोर मत समझो। Never underestimate your enemy.
(dushman ko kabhii kamzor mat samjho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
फ़िल्म में हीरो अपने पिता के दुश्मन से बदला लेता है। In the film, the hero takes revenge on his father's enemy.
(film men hiiro apne pitaa ke dushman se badlaa letaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जासूस को दुश्मन के देश में पकड़ लिया गया। The spy was caught in the enemy country.
(jaasoos ko dushman ke desh men pakad liyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि वह सच में हमारा दुश्मन है? Do you think he is really our enemy?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki vah sach men hamaaraa dushman hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतिहास गवाह है कि सबसे बड़ा दुश्मन इंसान का अपना अहंकार होता है। History is witness that a person's biggest enemy is their own ego.
(itihaas gavaah hai ki sabse badaa dushman insaan kaa apnaa ahankaar hotaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): दुश्मन (dushman)
(sg.m.oblique): दुश्मन (dushman)
(pl.m.direct): दुश्मन (dushman)
(pl.m.oblique): दुश्मनों (dushmnon)