**1. Introduction**

Enterococci as the name implies are gram positive cocci that dwell in the human intestine. They are a genus comprising of spherical to oval diplococcic that typically form an angle to each other upon division. Most of the species are non-motile and the early classification was based on their ability to survive in 10% bile solution unlike the other streptococci. This chapter will focus on the evolution of their nomenclature, the important species and emerging trends of infection in the present scenario.
