Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beautiful'

English Word: Beautiful

Key Russian Translations:

• красивый [krɐˈsʲivɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Masculine Singular]
• прекрасный [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for deeper or abstract beauty]
• хорошенький [xɐrɐˈʂɛnʲkʲɪj] - [Informal, Often used for small or cute things]

Frequency: High (commonly used in daily conversations)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, varies slightly by word)

Pronunciation (Russian):

красивый: [krɐˈsʲivɨj]

Note on красивый: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and may be challenging for English speakers.

прекрасный: [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj]

Note on прекрасный: Stress on the second syllable. The rolled "р" requires practice.

хорошенький: [xɐrɐˈʂɛnʲkʲɪj]

Note on хорошенький: Stress on the third syllable. The "х" is a guttural sound unfamiliar to many English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Attractive (People, Objects, Scenery)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красивый - Commonly used for physical beauty of people, places, or things (e.g., a beautiful woman or landscape).
• хорошенький - Often used for something small or cute, like a child or a small object.

Usage Examples:

• Она очень красивая женщина.

  She is a very beautiful woman.

• Какой красивый закат!

  What a beautiful sunset!

• Посмотри, какой хорошенький котёнок!

  Look, what a cute little kitten!

2. Wonderful or Excellent (Abstract Beauty or Quality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прекрасный - Used for abstract beauty, such as ideas, moments, or experiences (e.g., a beautiful day or story).

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня прекрасный день для прогулки.

  Today is a beautiful day for a walk.

• Это была прекрасная история.

  That was a beautiful story.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

красивый (Adjective): As a Russian adjective, it changes based on gender, number, and case. Below is the basic declension for nominative case:

прекрасный (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension rules as красивый.

хорошенький (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives but has a diminutive tone.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• привлекательный (attractive, often for people)
• великолепный (magnificent, often for grand beauty)
• милый (cute, similar to хорошенький)

Antonyms:

• уродливый (ugly)
• некрасивый (not beautiful, unattractive)

Related Phrases:

• красиво сказано - "beautifully said" (used to compliment eloquent speech)
• прекрасное настроение - "beautiful mood" (feeling wonderful)
• хорошенькое личико - "pretty little face" (often used affectionately)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing the right word: Use "красивый" for general physical beauty, "прекрасный" for abstract or emotional beauty, and "хорошенький" for something small or endearing.
• Gender agreement: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case, unlike English adjectives which remain unchanged.
• Formality: "прекрасный" is more formal and often used in writing or elevated speech, while "хорошенький" is very informal and conversational.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect gender agreement: English speakers often forget to change the adjective form to match the noun. For example, saying "красивый девушка" instead of "красивая девушка" (beautiful girl) is wrong because "девушка" is feminine.
• Using the wrong word: Using "хорошенький" for a grand landscape (e.g., "хорошенький пейзаж") sounds odd because it implies cuteness rather than grandeur. Use "красивый" or "прекрасный" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, complimenting beauty (especially of people) is common and appreciated, but it’s important to use the appropriate word based on context. For instance, calling an older woman "хорошенькая" might be seen as inappropriate or patronizing due to its diminutive tone; "красивая" would be more respectful.

Related Concepts:

• красота (beauty)
• привлекательность (attractiveness)
• очарование (charm)