Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'beautiful'

English Word: beautiful

Key Russian Translations:

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

Frequency: High (commonly used across various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies by translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

красивый: [krɐˈsʲivɨj]

Note on красивый: Stress falls on the second syllable; the final 'й' sound is a soft consonant, often challenging for non-native speakers.

прекрасный: [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj]

Note on прекрасный: Stress on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, a common difficulty for English speakers.

хорошенький: [xɐˈroʂɨnkʲɪj]

Note on хорошенький: Stress on the second syllable; the 'х' sound is a guttural fricative, unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Attractive (Person, Object, or Scene)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красивый - Commonly used for describing people, landscapes, or objects with aesthetic appeal.
• хорошенький - Often used for something small, cute, or delicately pretty, like a child or small object.

Usage Examples:

• Она очень красивая женщина.

  She is a very beautiful woman.

• Этот пейзаж такой красивый!

  This landscape is so beautiful!

• Какой хорошенький котёнок!

  What a cute little kitten!

2. Excellent or Wonderful (Abstract Beauty)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прекрасный - Used for abstract concepts like a beautiful day, idea, or performance.

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня прекрасный день для прогулки.

  Today is a beautiful day for a walk.

• Это была прекрасная идея!

  That was a wonderful idea!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

красивый (Adjective): Changes according to gender, number, and case. Below is the nominative case declension:

Gender/Number	Form
Masculine Singular	красивый
Feminine Singular	красивая
Neuter Singular	красивое
Plural	красивые

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

хорошенький (Adjective): Also declines by gender, number, and case, with a diminutive connotation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• привлекательный (attractive)
• великолепный (magnificent)
• милый (lovely, cute)

Note: 'милый' is closer to 'хорошенький' in tone, while 'великолепный' aligns with 'прекрасный' for grandeur.

Antonyms:

• уродливый (ugly)
• безобразный (hideous)

Related Phrases:

• красивая жизнь - "beautiful life" (used to describe a luxurious or ideal lifestyle)
• прекрасное далёко - "beautiful faraway" (a poetic expression, often nostalgic)
• хорошенькое личико - "pretty little face" (a term of endearment)

Usage Notes:

• 'красивый' is the most versatile and common translation for 'beautiful,' suitable for most physical and aesthetic contexts.
• 'прекрасный' often carries a sense of excellence or perfection beyond mere appearance, making it ideal for abstract or formal contexts.
• 'хорошенький' has a diminutive, affectionate tone and is less formal, often used for children or small, cute objects.
• Ensure agreement in gender, number, and case when using these adjectives in Russian sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'хорошенький' to describe something grand or majestic.
  Incorrect: Этот дворец хорошенький. (This palace is cute.)
  Correct: Этот дворец красивый/прекрасный. (This palace is beautiful/wonderful.)
  Explanation: 'хорошенький' implies smallness or cuteness, inappropriate for large or majestic objects.
• Error: Forgetting gender agreement.
  Incorrect: Она красивый. (She is beautiful [masculine form].)
  Correct: Она красивая. (She is beautiful [feminine form].)
  Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, compliments about beauty (especially using 'красивая' for women) are common and appreciated, but they are often direct. Overusing 'прекрасный' in casual settings might sound overly formal or poetic. Additionally, beauty is a significant theme in Russian literature and folklore, often tied to nature or moral virtues.

Related Concepts:

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