Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deadly'

English Word: deadly

Key Russian Translations:

• смертельный [smʲɪrˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often used in medical or legal contexts]
• смертоносный [smʲɪrtɐˈnosnɨj] - [Formal, Literary, Often used for weapons or poison]
• убийственный [ʊbʲɪjˈstvʲɪnnɨj] - [Informal, Figurative, Often used for criticism or humor]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

смертельный: [smʲɪrˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on смертельный: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled softly.

смертоносный: [smʲɪrtɐˈnosnɨj]

Note on смертоносный: Stress on the third syllable; often used in written rather than spoken language.

убийственный: [ʊbʲɪjˈstvʲɪnnɨj]

Note on убийственный: Stress on the second syllable; the 'у' is pronounced as a short 'oo'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Causing or likely to cause death (Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смертельный - Used for diseases, injuries, or situations that directly result in death.
• смертоносный - Often refers to objects or substances (e.g., weapons, poison) designed to kill.

Usage Examples:

• У него была смертельная болезнь.

  He had a deadly disease.

• Это смертоносное оружие запрещено.

  This deadly weapon is banned.

• Смертельная доза яда была обнаружена в его крови.

  A deadly dose of poison was found in his blood.

2. Extremely harmful or destructive (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• убийственный - Used in informal or figurative contexts, often for criticism, humor, or emphasis.

Usage Examples:

• Его убийственный взгляд заставил меня замолчать.

  His deadly glare made me shut up.

• Это был убийственный комментарий на собрании.

  That was a deadly comment at the meeting.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

смертельный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the declension table for singular forms:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	смертельный	смертельная	смертельное
Genitive	смертельного	смертельной	смертельного
Dative	смертельному	смертельной	смертельному

Note: Plural forms follow standard adjective declension rules (e.g., Nominative Plural: смертельные).

смертоносный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as смертельный.

убийственный (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives, with similar gender, number, and case variations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• летальный (lethal, often medical)
• фатальный (fatal, often dramatic)

Note: "летальный" is more technical, while "фатальный" can imply inevitability or fate.

Antonyms:

• безопасный (safe)
• безвредный (harmless)

Related Phrases:

• смертельная опасность - Deadly danger (used for life-threatening situations).
• смертоносный удар - Deadly blow (often in combat or metaphorical contexts).
• убийственный юмор - Deadly humor (extremely sharp or cutting humor).

Usage Notes:

• "смертельный" is the most neutral and widely applicable translation for literal contexts involving death or fatal outcomes.
• "смертоносный" is more specific to objects or agents that cause death and is often found in formal or literary texts.
• "убийственный" is frequently used in informal or figurative speech, especially to describe something devastating in a non-literal sense (e.g., a critique or look).
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "убийственный" in literal contexts of death. Incorrect: "У него была убийственная болезнь." (Intended: He had a deadly disease.) Correct: "У него была смертельная болезнь." Explanation: "убийственный" is figurative and inappropriate for literal death contexts.
• Error: Overusing "смертоносный" in everyday speech. Incorrect: "Это смертоносная ошибка." (Intended: This is a deadly mistake.) Correct: "Это фатальная ошибка." Explanation: "смертоносный" is typically reserved for tangible deadly agents, not abstract concepts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving death or danger (like "смертельный") are often used with caution in polite conversation, as they can sound overly dramatic or evoke superstition. Figurative uses, such as "убийственный," are more common in casual speech to add humor or emphasis.

Related Concepts:

• смерть (death)
• опасность (danger)
• гибель (demise, destruction)