Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'execrable'

English Word: execrable

Key Russian Translations:

• отвратительный /ɐˈtvrətʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, often used for something morally or physically repulsive]
• ужасный /ʊˈʐasnɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech for something extremely bad or disappointing]

Frequency: Medium (These words are encountered regularly in Russian literature, media, and conversation, but not as basic as everyday adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances. For 'отвратительный', it's slightly more challenging due to its formal tone; 'ужасный' is easier for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отвратительный: /ɐˈtvrətʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on отвратительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tvr'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 't' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

ужасный: /ʊˈʐasnɨj/

Note on ужасный: The 'zh' sound (/ʐ/) is similar to the 's' in 'measure'; it's a common sound in Russian, but English speakers may initially confuse it with 'z'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality (the primary sense of 'execrable' in English).

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвратительный - Used in formal or written contexts, such as describing unethical behavior or disgusting conditions, e.g., in literature or formal complaints.
• ужасный - Applied in informal, everyday situations for something disappointing or terrible, like a bad meal or a failed event.

Usage Examples:

• Его отвратительное поведение шокировало всех на собрании. (His execrable behavior shocked everyone at the meeting.)

  This example shows 'отвратительный' in a formal context describing moral repugnance, with agreement in gender and case.

• Фильм был ужасным, я не рекомендую его смотреть. (The movie was execrable; I don't recommend watching it.)

  Here, 'ужасный' is used informally to express disappointment in entertainment, demonstrating its versatility in casual speech.

• Эта отвратительная еда вызвала у меня тошноту. (This execrable food made me feel sick.)

  Illustrates 'отвратительный' in a sensory context, highlighting physical disgust in a complete sentence.

• Погода сегодня ужасная, давай останемся дома. (The weather today is execrable; let's stay home.)

  Shows 'ужасный' in an everyday environmental context, emphasizing its informal tone and common pairing with weather topics.

• Его отвратительный комментарий оскорбил всех присутствующих. (His execrable comment offended everyone present.)

  Demonstrates 'отвратительный' in social interactions, with potential for inflection in different sentence structures.

Meaning 2: Deserving of strong condemnation (a more emphatic or archaic use in English).

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвратительный - In contexts involving ethics or morality, such as legal or philosophical discussions.
• ужасный - Less common here, but possible in emotional narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Это отвратительное преступление не должно остаться безнаказанным. (This execrable crime must not go unpunished.)

  Emphasizes moral judgment, showing 'отвратительный' in a formal, legalistic context.

• Его ужасные действия разрушили нашу дружбу. (His execrable actions destroyed our friendship.)

  Uses 'ужасный' to convey emotional impact in personal relationships.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'отвратительный' and 'ужасный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension adjective patterns, with some irregularities in spelling for 'отвратительный' due to its consonant clusters.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form but must agree with the noun they modify. 'Отвратительный' is more likely to be used in written Russian, while 'ужасный' is versatile in both spoken and written forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мерзкий (merzkiy) - Similar to 'отвратительный', but often implies a slimy or filthy connotation; used for physical disgust.
  • гадкий (gadkiy) - Closer to 'ужасный' in informal contexts, emphasizing meanness or unpleasantness with a childish tone.
• Antonyms:
  • прекрасный (prekrasnyy) - Generally means wonderful or beautiful, directly opposing the negative intensity.
  • замечательный (zamechatel'nyy) - Implies something remarkable or excellent.

Related Phrases:

• отвратительный вкус (otravitel'nyy vkus) - Disgusting taste; used to describe unpalatable food or experiences.
• ужасная погода (uzhasnaya pogoda) - Execrable weather; a common phrase for complaining about bad conditions.
• отвратительное поведение (otravitel'noe povedenie) - Execrable behavior; refers to morally reprehensible actions in social contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Отвратительный' is a more precise match for the formal, intense connotation of 'execrable' in English, often used in written or professional settings, while 'ужасный' is better for casual conversations. Choose based on context: opt for 'отвратительный' in ethical or descriptive writing, and 'ужасный' in everyday speech. Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, in sentences involving emotions, 'ужасный' pairs well with subjects like weather or events, enhancing expressiveness without overstatement.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'отвратительный' in informal settings where 'ужасный' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Это отвратительный день" instead of "Это ужасный день" for casual weather complaints. Correct: "Это ужасный день" – Explanation: 'Отвратительный' sounds overly dramatic and formal, potentially alienating listeners.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "отвратительный женщина" instead of "отвратительная женщина". Correct: "отвратительная женщина" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this error can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.
• Mistake: Confusing with similar words like 'страшный' (scary), leading to misuse in non-fear contexts. Correct: Use 'ужасный' for general badness – Explanation: 'Страшный' implies fear, not just unpleasantness, so it doesn't fully capture 'execrable'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'отвратительный' often carry a strong moral undertone, reflecting the language's emphasis on ethical judgments in literature and media. For instance, in classic Russian novels by authors like Dostoevsky, such terms highlight societal flaws, underscoring a cultural value of introspection and criticism of human behavior.

Related Concepts:

• плохой (plokhoy) - Bad
• омерзительный (omerzititel'nyy) - Repulsive
• гнусный (gnusnyy) - Vile