शत्रु (shatru)

noun A formal/literary word for 'enemy' or 'foe' -- one core meaning, used for personal, political, or national enemies alike.
Sense 1 : enemy, foe, adversary
noun, masculine
Synonyms: दुश्मन (dushman), विरोधी (virodhii, rival/opponent, narrower), रिपु (ripu, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet शत्रु (shatru) a lot in mythology, epics, and moral/political speech -- Ram's शत्रु (shatru) is Ravan, for instance -- while दुश्मन (dushman) is what people actually call their enemies at home or in a quarrel. Knowing both lets you hear the difference between a news anchor and a friend complaining about a colleague.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for दुश्मन (dushman) by default since it is the everyday word; शत्रु (shatru) is not wrong in casual speech but sounds a notch more formal or bookish, closer to 'foe' or 'adversary' than plain 'enemy'. 2) शत्रु (shatru) is used for both personal enemies and larger abstract or national ones (जान का शत्रु (jaan kaa shatru, mortal enemy), देश का शत्रु (desh kaa shatru, enemy of the country)), so do not assume it is reserved only for grand or political contexts.
Sample Sentences:
राम का सबसे बड़ा शत्रु रावण था। Ram's greatest enemy was Ravan.
(raam kaa sabse badaa shatru raavan thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
एक बुद्धिमान राजा अपने शत्रुओं को कभी कम नहीं आँकता। A wise king never underestimates his enemies.
(ek buddhimaan raajaa apne shatruon ko kabhii kam nahiin aanktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
देश के शत्रु सीमा पर इकट्ठे हो रहे हैं। The nation's enemies are gathering at the border.
(desh ke shatru siimaa par ikatthe ho rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्रोध मनुष्य का सबसे बड़ा शत्रु माना जाता है। Anger is considered man's greatest enemy.
(krodh manushy kaa sabse badaa shatru maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यदि तुम अपने शत्रु को पहचान लो, तो आधी लड़ाई जीत चुके हो। If you recognize your enemy, you have already won half the battle.
(yadi tum apne shatru ko pahchaan lo, to aadhii ladaaii jiit chuke ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सेनापति ने शत्रु की सेना को परास्त कर दिया। The commander defeated the enemy's army.
(senaapti ne shatru kii senaa ko paraast kar diyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश वह अपने शत्रुओं से समय रहते सावधान हो जाता। If only he had been wary of his enemies in time.
(kaash vah apne shatruon se samay rahte saavdhaan ho jaataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
हे राजन, अपने शत्रु को कभी अकेला मत छोड़िए। O king, never leave your enemy unattended.
(he raajan, apne shatru ko kabhii akelaa mat chhodie।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
गुरु ने कहा कि अज्ञान ही मनुष्य का सच्चा शत्रु है। The guru said that ignorance alone is man's true enemy.
(guru ne kahaa ki agyaan hii manushy kaa sachchaa shatru hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतिहास में कई राज्य अपने शत्रुओं के हाथों नष्ट हो गए। In history, many kingdoms were destroyed at the hands of their enemies.
(itihaas men kaii raajy apne shatruon ke haathon nasht ho gae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): शत्रु (shatru)
(sg.m.oblique): शत्रु (shatru)
(pl.m.direct): शत्रु (shatru)
(pl.m.oblique): शत्रुों ([[शत्रुों]])