Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ferocious'

English Word: ferocious

Key Russian Translations:

• жестокий [ˈʐɛstəkʲɪj] - [Formal, often used in literary or serious contexts]
• свирепый [svʲɪˈrʲepɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech or descriptions of animals]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in Russian literature, news, and conversation, but not as commonly as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Learners at this level should understand the nuances, but mastering declensions may require practice. For 'жестокий', it's B2; for 'свирепый', it's also B2 due to similar inflection patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жестокий: [ˈʐɛstəkʲɪj]

Note on жестокий: The initial 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the 's' in 'measure'. Stress is on the first syllable.

свирепый: [svʲɪˈrʲepɨj]

Note on свирепый: The 'св' combination starts with a voiceless alveolar fricative; the 'ы' vowel is a central vowel not found in English, similar to a muffled 'i'. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely aggressive, violent, or fierce (e.g., describing animals, people, or behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жестокий - Used in formal contexts, such as describing cruel actions or intense emotions in literature or historical texts.
• свирепый - Applied in informal settings, like everyday descriptions of wild animals or intense weather.

Usage Examples:

• В джунглях живет свирепый тигр, который охотится на всё, что движется.

  In the jungle lives a ferocious tiger that hunts everything that moves.

• Его жестокий взгляд заставил всех в комнате замолчать.

  His ferocious gaze made everyone in the room fall silent.

• Свирепый шторм разрушил несколько домов на побережье.

  The ferocious storm destroyed several houses on the coast.

• Жестокий правитель подавлял любое сопротивление силой.

  The ferocious ruler suppressed any resistance by force.

Meaning 2: Intense or vehement in a non-physical sense (e.g., describing emotions or competition)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жестокий - In contexts involving emotional intensity, such as debates or rivalries, to emphasize severity.
• свирепый - Less common here, but used for vivid, informal descriptions of fierce competition.

Usage Examples:

• Её жестокий энтузиазм в споре всегда впечатляет коллег.

  Her ferocious enthusiasm in debates always impresses her colleagues.

• Свирепый соревновательный дух команды привел к победе.

  The ferocious competitive spirit of the team led to victory.

• Жестокий критицизм от экспертов помог улучшить проект.

  The ferocious criticism from experts helped improve the project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'жестокий' and 'свирепый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but they must agree with the nouns they modify. Here is a basic inflection table for each:

For 'жестокий' (ferocious):

For 'свирепый' (ferocious):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • яростный (yarostnyy) - More intense, implying rage; often used for emotional outbursts.
  • дикий (dikyiy) - Wild or untamed, with a connotation of primitiveness.
• Antonyms:
  • добрый (dobryy) - Kind or gentle.
  • мирный (mirnyy) - Peaceful or calm.

Related Phrases:

• жестокий зверь - A ferocious beast; Used in stories to describe dangerous animals.
• свирепый ветер - A ferocious wind; Common in weather descriptions to indicate strong storms.
• жестокий бой - A ferocious fight; Refers to intense battles or conflicts.

Usage Notes:

'Жестокий' is a more formal equivalent to 'ferocious' and is often preferred in written Russian or serious discussions, while 'свирепый' is more vivid and informal. Choose based on context: use 'жестокий' for human cruelty and 'свирепый' for natural ferocity. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as Russian grammar requires this for sentence accuracy.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "жестокий женщина" instead of "жестокая женщина" (ferocious woman). Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case.
• Confusing with synonyms: Using 'дикий' (wild) when 'ferocious' implies violence, leading to "дикий тигр" which might understate aggression. Correct usage: Opt for 'свирепый тигр' for a more precise match.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'жестокий' often appear in literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works) to depict the harsh realities of life, reflecting historical themes of struggle and resilience. This can add a layer of dramatic intensity, emphasizing the unforgiving nature of the Russian landscape or society.

Related Concepts:

• яростный
• агрессивный
• хищный