Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Brutal'

English Word: brutal

Key Russian Translations:

• жестокий [ʐɨˈstokʲɪj] - [Formal, Informal, Adjective]
• брутальный [brʊˈtalʲnɨj] - [Informal, Often Positive or Neutral, Adjective]
• грубый [ˈɡrubɨj] - [Informal, Often Negative, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "жестокий" and "грубый"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "брутальный" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

жестокий: [ʐɨˈstokʲɪj]

Note on жестокий: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

брутальный: [brʊˈtalʲnɨj]

Note on брутальный: Borrowed from English, stress on the second syllable. Often used with a positive connotation (e.g., "tough and cool").

грубый: [ˈɡrubɨj]

Note on грубый: Stress on the first syllable. The "г" is a voiced velar stop, similar to English "g".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Cruel or Harsh (Negative Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жестокий - Used to describe cruelty in behavior or actions, often in serious or formal contexts (e.g., brutal treatment).
• грубый - Refers to roughness or rudeness, often in interpersonal interactions (e.g., brutal honesty as harshness).

Usage Examples:

• Его жестокое обращение с животными возмутило всех.

  His brutal treatment of animals outraged everyone.

• Она была жестокой в своих словах, не щадя никого.

  She was brutal in her words, sparing no one.

• Его грубый ответ обидел её.

  His brutal (harsh) reply offended her.

2. Tough or Masculine (Neutral or Positive Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• брутальный - Often used positively to describe a rugged, tough, or masculine appearance or style.

Usage Examples:

• У него брутальный стиль: кожаная куртка и борода.

  He has a brutal style: leather jacket and a beard.

• Этот фильм имеет брутальную атмосферу, полную напряжения.

  This movie has a brutal atmosphere, full of tension.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

жестокий (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case as a standard Russian adjective.

брутальный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "жестокий".

грубый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns, with stress on the root "груб-".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for жестокий:

• беспощадный (merciless)
• суровый (harsh, severe)

Synonyms for брутальный:

• мужественный (manly) - more formal and positive
• грубый (rough) - more negative

Antonyms for жестокий:

• добрый (kind)
• мягкий (gentle)

Related Phrases:

• жестокое обращение - Brutal treatment (often used in legal or ethical contexts).
• брутальный мужчина - Brutal man (meaning tough or ruggedly masculine).
• грубый тон - Brutal (harsh) tone (used for rude or blunt speech).

Usage Notes:

• "жестокий" is the most common translation for "brutal" when referring to cruelty or harshness. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
• "брутальный" is a loanword from English and often carries a neutral or positive connotation, especially when describing style or personality (e.g., "tough guy"). Avoid using it for cruelty.
• "грубый" focuses on roughness or rudeness, often in speech or behavior. It is less intense than "жестокий" in terms of cruelty.
• Choosing the right word depends on context: use "жестокий" for serious or violent harshness, "брутальный" for appearance or vibe, and "грубый" for interpersonal rudeness.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "брутальный" to mean "cruel." This is incorrect as it typically has a positive or neutral tone.

Incorrect: Он был брутальным к детям. (He was brutal to the children.)

Correct: Он был жестоким к детям.

Error 2: Confusing "грубый" with "жестокий" in contexts requiring severity. "грубый" implies rudeness, not deep cruelty.

Incorrect: Это был грубый поступок, убить животное. (This was a brutal act, to kill an animal.)

Correct: Это был жестокий поступок, убить животное.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "брутальный" has gained popularity in recent years due to Western influence, often associated with a rugged, masculine image (e.g., action movie heroes). However, traditional Russian terms like "жестокий" are more deeply rooted and carry stronger emotional weight when describing cruelty, often evoking historical or literary contexts of hardship.

Related Concepts:

• жестокость (cruelty)
• грубость (rudeness)
• мужественность (masculinity)