Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dreadful'

English Word: dreadful

Key Russian Translations:

• ужасный [ʊˈʐasnɨj] - [Informal, often used for something very bad or unpleasant]
• страшный [ˈstrɑʃnɨj] - [Formal, typically for something causing fear or terror]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and nuances in emotional expression, varying by translation—e.g., "ужасный" is slightly easier for beginners due to its broader informal use, while "страшный" may feel more advanced in formal contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужасный: [ʊˈʐasnɨj] (The "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure"; stress on the second syllable.)

Note on ужасный: Be cautious with the "ж" sound, as it's a common difficulty for English speakers; it can vary slightly in speed based on regional dialects, like in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg accents.

страшный: [ˈstrɑʃnɨj] (Stress on the first syllable; the "ш" is a voiceless palatal fricative, like "sh" in "she".)

Note on страшный: The vowel in the first syllable can soften in fast speech, making it sound more like [ˈʂtrɑʃnɨj] in some informal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing fear or terror (e.g., something frightening or horrific)

Translation(s) & Context:

• страшный - Used in contexts involving horror, supernatural elements, or intense fear, such as describing a nightmare or a scary story (e.g., in literature or movies).

Usage Examples:

• Эта история была страшной, и я не мог уснуть всю ночь.

  This story was dreadful, and I couldn't sleep all night.

• Страшный шторм разрушил несколько домов в деревне.

  The dreadful storm destroyed several houses in the village.

• В фильме был страшный монстр, который пугал зрителей.

  In the movie, there was a dreadful monster that scared the viewers.

• Страшные новости о катастрофе распространились по городу.

  The dreadful news about the disaster spread through the city.

Meaning 2: Very bad or unpleasant (e.g., something of poor quality or disappointing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Commonly used for everyday complaints, like bad weather, food, or experiences, in informal settings such as casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Ужасный обед в ресторане испортил весь вечер.

  The dreadful meal at the restaurant ruined the whole evening.

• Её платье было ужасным, но она всё равно его надела.

  Her dress was dreadful, but she wore it anyway.

• Ужасная погода помешала нам пойти на прогулку.

  The dreadful weather prevented us from going for a walk.

• Этот фильм оказался ужасным, несмотря на хорошие отзывы.

  This movie turned out to be dreadful, despite the good reviews.

• Ужасный день в офисе оставил меня в плохом настроении.

  The dreadful day at the office left me in a bad mood.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ужасный" and "страшный" are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms, though there are no irregularities here. Below is a table for "ужасный" (as an example; "страшный" follows the same structure).

For "страшный", the forms are identical in pattern (e.g., Nominative: страшный, страшная, etc.). These adjectives do not have irregular forms and follow standard first-declension rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страшный (similar to "ужасный" but more intense in fear contexts)
  • ужасный (overlaps with "dreadful" in bad quality, but can imply shock)
  • плохой (more neutral, used for general badness, less emotional)
• Antonyms:
  • прекрасный (wonderful, positive opposite)
  • хороший (good, everyday positive contrast)
  • замечательный (remarkable, emphasizing positivity)

Related Phrases:

• ужасный день - A dreadful day (used to describe a particularly bad day, often in casual complaints).
• страшная история - A dreadful story (refers to a scary tale or horror narrative).
• ужасная погода - Dreadful weather (common for complaining about poor weather conditions).
• страшный сон - A dreadful dream (specifically for nightmares or frightening dreams).

Usage Notes:

• "Ужасный" is the closer match to the informal, everyday sense of "dreadful" in English, while "страшный" aligns more with its literal fear-inducing meaning. Choose based on context: use "ужасный" for complaints about quality, and "страшный" for emotional or horror-related scenarios.
• Both words are adjectives and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical feature in Russian not present in English.
• In formal writing or speech, "страшный" might be preferred for its slightly more elevated tone, whereas "ужасный" is versatile in informal settings like social media or conversations.
• Avoid overusing these in positive contexts, as they carry strong negative connotations that could lead to misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ужасный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "ужасный книга" instead of "ужасная книга" for a feminine noun like "книга" (book).
  Correct: "Ужасная книга" (The dreadful book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common mistake for English speakers who treat adjectives as invariable.
• Error: Confusing "ужасный" and "страшный" in context, e.g., using "ужасный" for a horror movie when "страшный" is more appropriate.
  Correct: "Страшный фильм" instead of "Ужасный фильм". Explanation: While both work, "страшный" emphasizes fear, making it more precise and avoiding dilution of meaning.
• Error: Pronouncing the "ж" in "ужасный" as a hard "j" like in "jump", resulting in [ʊˈdʒasnɨj].
  Correct Pronunciation: [ʊˈʐasnɨj]. Explanation: This softens the sound and can make your speech sound more natural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

Words like "ужасный" and "страшный" often reflect Russia's rich tradition of storytelling and literature, where themes of hardship, fear, and endurance are prevalent (e.g., in works by Pushkin or Dostoevsky). "Страшный" might evoke folk tales or historical events like wars, symbolizing the "dreadful" aspects of Russian history, helping users appreciate the emotional depth in everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• кошмарный (nightmarish)
• ужас (horror)
• страх (fear)
• плохой (bad)