Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'frightful'

English Word: frightful

Key Russian Translations:

• ужасный (/uˈʐasnɨj/) - [Formal, commonly used in descriptive contexts]
• страшный (/ˈstraʂnɨj/) - [Informal, often in everyday speech or storytelling]
• жуткий (/ˈʐutkʲij/) - [Informal, Plural forms vary; used for intense, eerie fear]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered regularly in literature, media, and conversation, but not as common as basic adjectives like "big" or "small".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections requires familiarity with Russian adjective declensions. Variations in formality may add slight complexity for some translations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужасный: /uˈʐasnɨj/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'н' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the rolled 'р'.)

Note on ужасный: This word has a stressed vowel that affects the preceding consonant; practice with native audio to master the guttural 'ж' sound.

страшный: /ˈstraʂnɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ш' is a soft, hissing sound similar to 'sh' in English, but more palatalized.)

Note on страшный: In rapid speech, the 'т' can blend with the 'р', making it sound more fluid; common in informal contexts.

жуткий: /ˈʐutkʲij/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative, and the ending 'ий' softens the pronunciation.)

Note on жуткий: This word often conveys a chilling or supernatural connotation, which might influence intonation—speak with a lower pitch for emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing fear or terror (e.g., something that inspires fright)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Used in formal descriptions, such as in literature or news, to describe something deeply frightening or dreadful.
• страшный - Common in informal storytelling or casual conversation to express immediate fear, like in horror contexts.
• жуткий - Applied in situations involving eerie or uncanny fear, often in plural or narrative forms.

Usage Examples:

• В старом замке было ужасно темно и страшно.

  In the old castle, it was frightfully dark and scary. (This example shows 'ужасный' in a descriptive, formal setting, emphasizing atmosphere.)

• Этот фильм такой жуткий, что я не смогла досмотреть до конца.

  This movie is so frightful that I couldn't watch it to the end. (Here, 'жуткий' highlights an intense, personal reaction in informal speech.)

• Ужасные новости о катастрофе шокировали всю страну.

  The frightful news about the disaster shocked the entire country. ('Ужасный' is used in a news context, demonstrating its versatility in plural forms.)

• Страшный шторм разрушил несколько домов в деревне.

  The frightful storm destroyed several houses in the village. (This illustrates 'страшный' in a narrative, everyday scenario.)

• Жуткие звуки в ночи разбудили всех соседей.

  The frightful sounds at night woke up all the neighbors. ('Жуткий' conveys a mysterious, plural element in a suspenseful context.)

Meaning 2: Extremely bad or unpleasant (e.g., not necessarily fear-inducing, but awful in quality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - In contexts like poor weather or bad food, emphasizing exaggeration.
• страшный - Less common here, but used informally for something disappointingly bad.

Usage Examples:

• Ужасная погода испортила наш пикник.

  The frightful weather ruined our picnic. (Shows 'ужасный' in a non-fear context, focusing on unpleasantness.)

• Страшная еда в этом ресторане – лучше не ходить.

  The frightful food in this restaurant – better not go. (Informal use of 'страшный' to express strong dissatisfaction.)

• Это был ужасный день, полный неприятных сюрпризов.

  It was a frightful day, full of unpleasant surprises. (Demonstrates 'ужасный' in a broader, emotional context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative position (e.g., "Это ужасно" – "This is frightful"), but always inflect when used attributively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пугающий (pugayushchiy) - More neutral, used for something startling.
  • испуганный (ispugannyy) - Implies being frightened, with a slight emotional nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • приятный (priyatnyy) - Pleasant or agreeable.
  • безопасный (bezopasnyy) - Safe, directly contrasting fear.

Related Phrases:

• ужасный сон – A frightful dream; used in contexts of nightmares or bad experiences.
• страшная история – A frightful story; common in folklore or horror genres.
• жуткие детали – Frightful details; refers to disturbing specifics in a narrative.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'ужасный' is the most direct equivalent to 'frightful' in formal English, often carrying a stronger emotional weight than its English counterpart. Use 'страшный' for everyday, informal situations to sound more natural. Be cautious with 'жуткий', as it implies something supernatural or intensely eerie, which might not align with all contexts of 'frightful'. Grammatically, always decline these adjectives according to the noun they modify. For example, choose based on the noun's gender and case to avoid awkward phrasing.

• When translating idioms, 'frightful' might map to phrases rather than single words, enhancing expressiveness in Russian.
• In formal writing, prefer 'ужасный' over informal options for better tone alignment.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to decline adjectives, e.g., saying "ужасный дом" in all cases instead of "ужасного дома" in genitive. Correct usage: Error – "Я боюсь ужасный шум" (incorrect, as it doesn't match case); Correct – "Я боюсь ужасного шума". Another mistake is overusing 'жуткий' for general fear, which can sound exaggerated; instead, opt for 'страшный' in casual talk.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ужасный' and 'страшный' often appear in folklore and literature (e.g., fairy tales by Pushkin), where they evoke themes of mystery and the supernatural. This reflects a cultural fascination with the eerie, as seen in traditions like telling 'страшные истории' around a campfire, which can deepen the emotional impact beyond mere fear.

Related Concepts:

• пугливый (easily frightened)
• кошмарный (nightmarish)
• мистический (mystical)