Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'grotesque'

English Word: grotesque

Key Russian Translations:

• гротеск [ɡrɐˈtɛsk] - [Noun, Formal, Art term; used in artistic or literary contexts]
• гротескный [ɡrɐˈtɛsknɨj] - [Adjective, Formal; used to describe something bizarre or distorted]

Frequency: Medium (Common in artistic, literary, and cultural discussions, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian vocabulary related to art and literature; the noun form may be easier, while adjective inflections add complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гротеск: [ɡrɐˈtɛsk]

Note on гротеск: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the 'r' sound, which is a rolled 'r' in Russian. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

гротескный: [ɡrɐˈtɛsknɨj]

Note on гротескный: The ending '-ый' softens in pronunciation; it's similar to other adjectives but can be tricky for learners due to vowel shifts in inflected forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. In art, literature, or describing something bizarre and distorted

Translation(s) & Context:

• гротеск - Used in formal contexts like art criticism or literature analysis, to refer to exaggerated, fantastical elements.
• гротескный - Applied to describe characters, scenes, or styles that are unnaturally strange or ugly, often in a humorous or satirical way.

Usage Examples:

• В его картинах преобладает гротеск, отражая абсурдность современной жизни.

  In his paintings, grotesque predominates, reflecting the absurdity of modern life.

• Гротескный персонаж в романе вызывает смех и отвращение одновременно.

  The grotesque character in the novel evokes both laughter and disgust at the same time.

• Художник использовал гротеск для критики социальных норм.

  The artist used grotesque to criticize social norms.

• Её гротескный грим сделал выступление незабываемым.

  Her grotesque makeup made the performance unforgettable.

• В этом стиле гротеск сочетается с реализмом для усиления эффекта.

  In this style, grotesque is combined with realism to enhance the effect.

2. General sense: Something comically ugly or unnatural

Translation(s) & Context:

• гротескный - Informal or semi-formal usage in everyday descriptions, such as in storytelling or casual critiques.

Usage Examples:

• Его гротескный танец на вечеринке всех рассмешил.

  His grotesque dance at the party made everyone laugh.

• Гротескный дизайн мебели отпугивал покупателей.

  The grotesque furniture design scared off buyers.

• В фильме героиня предстаёт в гротескном образе, подчёркивая контрасты.

  In the film, the heroine appears in a grotesque image, emphasizing contrasts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

гротеск is a masculine noun (from French loanword) and follows standard patterns for foreign nouns in Russian. It has regular declensions but is often used in its base form.

гротескный is an adjective and follows the standard adjectival declension pattern, which is regular but requires attention to gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: абсурдный (absurd, with a focus on illogicality), фантастический (fantastic, implying exaggeration)
• Antonyms: нормальный (normal, everyday and unremarkable), реалистичный (realistic, grounded in reality)

Related Phrases:

• стиль гротеска - A style of grotesque; used in art history to describe exaggerated forms.
• гротеск в литературе - Grotesque in literature; refers to distorted characters for satirical effect.
• элементы гротеска - Elements of grotesque; common in discussions of visual arts.

Usage Notes:

"Grotesque" in English often aligns with "гротеск" or "гротескный" in Russian, but choose based on context: use the noun for artistic styles and the adjective for descriptions. It's more formal and less common in casual speech, so avoid in everyday conversations. Grammatically, adjectives like "гротескный" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English. When multiple translations exist, "гротеск" is preferred for art-specific uses, while "гротескный" suits general descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "гротеск" as an adjective (e.g., "гротеск картина" instead of "гротескная картина"). Correct: Adjectives must be inflected; explanation: Russian requires agreement, so always adjust for gender and case.

• Error: Mispronouncing the stress (e.g., stressing the first syllable). Correct: Stress on the second syllable [ɡrɐˈtɛsk]; explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural and lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

• Error: Overusing in informal contexts (e.g., saying "гротескный" for something mildly odd). Correct: Reserve for truly bizarre or artistic scenarios; explanation: It may come across as pretentious in casual talk, where simpler words like "странный" are better.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "гротеск" is heavily associated with 19th-20th century literature and art, such as in the works of Nikolai Gogol or modern surrealism. It often carries connotations of social satire, reflecting the absurdities of life under historical regimes, which adds a layer of depth beyond its English counterpart.

Related Concepts:

• сюрреализм (surrealism)
• абсурд (absurd)
• карикатура (caricature)