Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cute'

English Word: cute

Key Russian Translations:

• милый [ˈmiːlɨj] - [Informal, General Use]
• симпатичный [sʲɪmˈpatʲɪtɕnɨj] - [Informal, Often for People]
• прелестный [prʲɪˈlʲesnɨj] - [Formal, Poetic]

Frequency: High (especially "милый" and "симпатичный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "милый" and "симпатичный"), B2 (Intermediate for "прелестный")

Pronunciation (Russian):

милый: [ˈmiːlɨj]

Note on милый: Stress falls on the first syllable. The final 'й' is a soft consonant sound, similar to 'y' in "yes."

симпатичный: [sʲɪmˈpatʲɪtɕnɨj]

Note on симпатичный: Stress on the second syllable. The 'ч' is a soft 'ch' sound, like in "church."

прелестный: [prʲɪˈlʲesnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Attractive in a Pretty or Endearing Way (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• милый - Commonly used for people, animals, or objects to express endearment or charm.
• симпатичный - Often used for people to describe physical attractiveness in a casual way.

Usage Examples:

• Этот щенок такой милый!

  This puppy is so cute!

• Она очень милая девушка.

  She is a very cute girl.

• Он симпатичный парень, правда?

  He’s a cute guy, isn’t he?

• У тебя такая милая улыбка!

  You have such a cute smile!

• Этот маленький домик выглядит очень мило.

  This little house looks very cute.

2. Charming or Delightful (More Formal or Poetic)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прелестный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something charming or delightful.

Usage Examples:

• Это прелестное платье вам очень идет.

  This charming dress suits you very well.

• Какой прелестный вид на горы!

  What a delightful view of the mountains!

• Ее прелестный голос заворожил всех.

  Her charming voice captivated everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

милый (Adjective): Declines based on gender, number, and case. Below is a simplified table for nominative case:

симпатичный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "милый." See example for masculine singular: симпатичный, feminine: симпатичная.

прелестный (Adjective): Declines similarly, e.g., прелестная (feminine), прелестное (neuter).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for милый/симпатичный:

• хорошенький
• славный
• приятный

Note: "хорошенький" is often used for small or delicate things, while "приятный" focuses on pleasantness rather than appearance.

Antonyms for милый/симпатичный:

• уродливый
• неприятный

Related Phrases:

• милый мой - "My dear" (affectionate address, often to loved ones).
• симпатичный тебе? - "Do you find (him/her) cute?" (casual inquiry about attraction).
• прелестный ребенок - "A charming child" (formal or poetic description).

Usage Notes:

• "милый" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "cute," applicable to people, animals, and objects. It often carries an emotional warmth.
• "симпатичный" is more specific to physical appearance, often used for people, and can imply mild attraction.
• "прелестный" is less common in everyday speech and reserved for formal, poetic, or literary contexts to describe something exceptionally charming.
• Be mindful of gender agreement when using these adjectives in Russian sentences. They must match the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "милый" without adjusting for gender, e.g., saying "милый девушка" instead of "милая девушка." Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree with the noun in gender. "Девушка" (girl) is feminine, so use "милая."
• Error: Overusing "прелестный" in casual speech, e.g., "Этот кот прелестный." Explanation: It sounds overly formal or outdated. Use "милый" for casual contexts: "Этот кот милый."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "милый" are often used as affectionate nicknames or terms of endearment between close friends, family, or romantic partners. Calling someone "милый" (or "милая" for females) can imply a personal connection, unlike the more neutral "cute" in English.

Related Concepts:

• красота (beauty)
• обаяние (charm)
• нежность (tenderness)