Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beautiful'

English Word: Beautiful

Key Russian Translations:

• красивый [krɐˈsʲivɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Used for masculine singular]
• красивая [krɐˈsʲivəjə] - [Formal/Informal, Used for feminine singular]
• прекрасный [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for deeper or poetic beauty]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday speech and literature)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for красивый/красивая due to gender agreement; B1 for прекрасный due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

красивый: [krɐˈsʲivɨj]

Note on красивый: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'с' sound is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

красивая: [krɐˈsʲivəjə]

прекрасный: [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Attractiveness (of a person, object, or place)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красивый/красивая - Commonly used for describing visually pleasing people, objects, or scenery in everyday language.

Usage Examples:

• Она очень красивая женщина.

  She is a very beautiful woman.

• Этот город такой красивый!

  This city is so beautiful!

• У тебя красивый дом.

  You have a beautiful house.

2. Abstract or Poetic Beauty (e.g., an idea, moment, or experience)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прекрасный - Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe something splendid or wonderful beyond physical appearance.

Usage Examples:

• Это был прекрасный вечер.

  It was a beautiful evening.

• У тебя прекрасная идея!

  You have a beautiful idea!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

красивый/красивая/красивое/красивые (Adjective): This word changes based on gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective declension rules.

прекрасный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as красивый but is less flexible in informal contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• прелестный (lovely, charming - often for delicate beauty)
• великолепный (magnificent - for grandeur)
• милый (cute, nice - more informal and affectionate)

Antonyms:

• уродливый (ugly - for physical unattractiveness)
• безобразный (hideous - stronger negative connotation)

Related Phrases:

• красиво сказано (beautifully said - used to compliment eloquent speech)
• прекрасный вид (beautiful view - often for landscapes)
• красивая жизнь (beautiful life - referring to an enviable lifestyle)

Usage Notes:

• Gender Agreement: Unlike English, Russian adjectives like красивый must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. Using the wrong form (e.g., красивый with a feminine noun) is a common error.
• Choosing between красивый and прекрасный: Use красивый for general physical beauty in casual or neutral contexts. Use прекрасный for more formal, poetic, or abstract beauty, often with an emotional tone.
• Intonation: In spoken Russian, emphasizing different syllables or adding diminutive suffixes can alter the emotional weight of the word.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using красивый with a feminine noun (e.g., *красивый женщина). Correct: красивая женщина. Explanation: Adjectives must match the gender of the noun in Russian.
• Error: Overusing прекрасный in casual speech (e.g., *прекрасный стол for a simple table). Correct: красивый стол. Explanation: прекрасный is reserved for more significant or emotional contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing something or someone as красивый or прекрасный often carries a sincere and heartfelt tone. Compliments about beauty are common in social interactions and are generally well-received, especially when directed at nature, art, or personal appearance. However, overusing such terms in formal or professional settings might seem overly emotional or inappropriate.

Related Concepts:

• красота (beauty - abstract noun)
• очарование (charm, enchantment)
• привлекательность (attractiveness)