Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fierce'

English Word: fierce

Key Russian Translations:

• Свирепый /svʲɪˈrʲɛ.pɨj/ - [Formal, often used for animals or intense situations]
• Жестокий /ʐɨsˈtokʲɪj/ - [Informal, emphasizing cruelty or severity]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and everyday descriptions of strong emotions or behaviors)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances; 'Свирепый' may be slightly easier at A2 for basic forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Свирепый: /svʲɪˈrʲɛ.pɨj/

Note on Свирепый: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'р' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

Жестокий: /ʐɨsˈtokʲɪj/

Note on Жестокий: Pronounce the initial 'ж' as a voiced fricative similar to 'zh' in 'measure'; the word is stressed on the second syllable, and the ending changes with inflection.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Violent, aggressive, or ferocious (e.g., describing animals, people, or conflicts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Свирепый - Used in formal contexts for wild or intense aggression, such as in nature or battles.
• Жестокий - Applied in informal or emotional contexts to denote cruelty, often in human interactions.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу живет свирепый волк, который пугает всех животных. (In the forest lives a fierce wolf that scares all the animals.)

  Translation: In the forest lives a fierce wolf that scares all the animals. (This example shows 'свирепый' in a natural, descriptive context.)

• Его жестокий нрав делает его опасным соперником в споре. (His fierce nature makes him a dangerous opponent in an argument.)

  Translation: His fierce nature makes him a dangerous opponent in an argument. (Here, 'жестокий' highlights emotional intensity in social settings.)

• Свирепый шторм разрушил дома на побережье. (The fierce storm destroyed houses on the coast.)

  Translation: The fierce storm destroyed houses on the coast. (Demonstrates 'свирепый' with weather phenomena for vivid description.)

• Она проявила жестокий характер, отказавшись помочь в трудную минуту. (She showed a fierce character by refusing to help in a difficult moment.)

  Translation: She showed a fierce character by refusing to help in a difficult moment. (Illustrates 'жестокий' in interpersonal relationships.)

Meaning 2: Intense, strong, or vehement (e.g., describing emotions, competitions, or efforts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Свирепый - In competitive or energetic contexts, implying unyielding strength.
• Яростный (as a related variant) - For intense emotions, though less common for 'fierce' than the above.

Usage Examples:

• Свирепый ветер не смог остановить их от похода в горы. (The fierce wind couldn't stop them from hiking in the mountains.)

  Translation: The fierce wind couldn't stop them from hiking in the mountains. (Shows 'свирепый' in an environmental challenge.)

• В яростном споре они высказали свирепые аргументы. (In the fierce debate, they presented intense arguments.)

  Translation: In the fierce debate, they presented intense arguments. (Combines 'свирепый' with debate scenarios for emphasis.)

• Ее жестокий энтузиазм вдохновил команду на победу. (Her fierce enthusiasm inspired the team to victory.)

  Translation: Her fierce enthusiasm inspired the team to victory. (Uses 'жестокий' metaphorically for motivation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Свирепый' and 'Жестокий' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives, with no irregularities. Here's a breakdown in table form:

Note: These adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. For feminine and neuter forms, endings change accordingly (e.g., Свирепая for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Яростный (yarostnyy) - More focused on rage; subtle difference from 'свирепый' in emotional intensity.
  • Дикий (diky) - Wild or untamed, often used interchangeably with 'свирепый' in animal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Мирный (mirnyy) - Peaceful, directly opposite in contexts of aggression.
  • Спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm, contrasting with intense emotions.

Related Phrases:

• Свирепый зверь - (A fierce beast; used in stories or wildlife descriptions to evoke danger.)
• Жестокий мир - (A fierce world; often in philosophical or literary contexts to describe harsh realities.)
• Свирепая борьба - (Fierce struggle; common in sports or competitive scenarios.)

Usage Notes:

'Свирепый' is a more neutral and formal equivalent to 'fierce' when describing physical or natural intensity, while 'жестокий' carries a connotation of cruelty, making it suitable for emotional or moral contexts. English users should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct parallel in English. For example, choose 'свирепый' for animals and 'жестокий' for human behavior to avoid mismatches. In formal writing, 'свирепый' is preferred over 'жестокий' for its less judgmental tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'свирепый' in place of 'жестокий' in emotional contexts, e.g., saying "Свирепый человек" when meaning a cruel person. Correct: "Жестокий человек". Explanation: 'Свирепый' implies wildness rather than deliberate cruelty, which can confuse the intended meaning.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., using "Свирепый волк" in all cases instead of "Свирепого волка" in genitive. Correct: Always adjust endings based on case. Explanation: This is a common mistake for English speakers due to the lack of inflection in English, leading to grammatical errors in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, words like 'жестокий' often carry deep cultural connotations of human suffering and moral struggle, reflecting Russia's historical experiences with hardship. 'Свирепый' might be used in folk tales to describe mythical creatures, emphasizing the harshness of nature in Russian folklore.

Related Concepts:

• Храбрый (khrabryy) - Brave
• Дикий (diky) - Wild
• Яростный (yarostnyy) - Furious