Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'grisly'

English Word: grisly

Key Russian Translations:

• ужасный [ʊˈʐasnɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in descriptive narratives]
• страшный [ˈstraʂnɨj] - [Informal, everyday speech]
• кровавый [krɐˈvavɨj] - [Neutral, specifically for bloody or gory contexts]

Frequency: Medium (These words are encountered regularly in literature, news, and conversation, but not as basic as everyday adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and contextual nuances. For 'ужасный' and 'страшный', it's B1; for 'кровавый', it might be A2 if focusing on literal meanings).

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужасный: [ʊˈʐasnɨj]

Note on ужасный: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure" but softer. Variations in stress may occur in rapid speech.

страшный: [ˈstraʂnɨj]

Note on страшный: The 'ш' is a voiceless retroflex fricative; practice with minimal pairs to distinguish from 'с' sounds.

кровавый: [krɐˈvavɨj]

Note on кровавый: The 'в' is a voiced labiodental fricative; ensure it doesn't soften into a 'w' sound as in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Causing horror, disgust, or revulsion, often due to violence or gruesomeness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Used in formal descriptions of frightening or appalling situations, such as in literature or news reports.
• страшный - Applied in informal contexts for something scary or dreadful, like in casual storytelling.
• кровавый - Specifically for contexts involving blood or gore, such as in crime scenes or horror genres.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме был ужасный сюжет с кровавыми сценами. (In the movie, there was a grisly plot with bloody scenes.)

  English Translation: In the movie, there was a grisly plot with bloody scenes. (This example shows 'ужасный' in a formal film critique context.)

• Эта новость о аварии была страшной и вызвала шок. (This news about the accident was grisly and caused shock.)

  English Translation: This news about the accident was grisly and caused shock. (Here, 'страшный' is used in an informal, everyday news discussion.)

• Кровавый инцидент в истории оставил неизгладимый след. (The grisly incident in history left an indelible mark.)

  English Translation: The grisly incident in history left an indelible mark. (This demonstrates 'кровавый' in a historical or narrative context.)

• Ужасный вид разрушения после землетрясения шокировал всех. (The grisly sight of destruction after the earthquake shocked everyone.)

  English Translation: The grisly sight of destruction after the earthquake shocked everyone. (Example highlights 'ужасный' with visual descriptions.)

• Страшные истории у костра всегда заставляют дрожать. (Grisly stories around the campfire always make you shiver.)

  English Translation: Grisly stories around the campfire always make you shiver. (Informal use of 'страшный' in recreational settings.)

Secondary Meaning: Extremely unpleasant or repulsive in a non-violent way (e.g., morally offensive).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - In contexts of moral disgust, such as unethical behavior.
• отвратительный (if extending) - For more general repulsion, though not primary for 'grisly'.

Usage Examples:

• Его ужасное поведение на встрече шокировало коллег. (His grisly behavior at the meeting shocked his colleagues.)

  English Translation: His grisly behavior at the meeting shocked his colleagues. (Shows 'ужасный' in a professional, moral context.)

• Страшная несправедливость в обществе требует изменений. (The grisly injustice in society demands change.)

  English Translation: The grisly injustice in society demands change. (Informal social commentary with 'страшный'.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling.

For 'страшный', it follows the same pattern but may have soft sign variations. These adjectives do not change in invariable contexts like predicates.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страшный (similar to 'grisly' but more about fear)
  • отвратительный (implies disgust, often in moral contexts)
  • мерзкий (for something vile or repulsive, with a connotation of filth)
• Antonyms:
  • приятный (pleasant, opposite in emotional tone)
  • красивый (beautiful, contrasting with visual horror)

Related Phrases:

• ужасный вид - A grisly sight (used to describe disturbing visual scenes).
• страшная история - A grisly story (common in folklore or horror narratives).
• кровавый конфликт - A grisly conflict (refers to violent disputes, e.g., in history).

Usage Notes:

'Grisly' corresponds most closely to 'ужасный' in formal English-Russian translations, especially for horror or disgust, but 'страшный' is preferable in everyday informal speech. Be mindful of context: use 'кровавый' for literal bloodiness. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. When choosing between translations, opt for 'ужасный' in written or professional settings and 'страшный' in casual conversations.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'ужасный' with 'страшный': English learners might use 'страшный' in formal writing, which sounds too casual. Correct: Use 'ужасный' for formal contexts; e.g., Incorrect: "Страшный фильм" in a review; Correct: "Ужасный фильм".
• Forgetting declensions: Learners often leave adjectives undeclined, e.g., saying "ужасный книга" instead of "ужасная книга" for feminine nouns. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so always check agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ужасный' and 'страшный' are prevalent in literature and folklore, such as in the works of Pushkin or modern horror stories, reflecting a deep-seated tradition of exploring fear and the macabre. They often carry connotations of existential dread, influenced by Russia's historical events like wars and revolutions.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• ужас (horror)
• кровопролитие (bloodshed)