Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gruesome'

English Word: gruesome

Key Russian Translations:

• ужасный /ʊˈʒas.nɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• страшный /ˈstraʂ.nɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective]
• отвратительный /ɐt.vra.tiˈtʲi.lʲnɨj/ - [Neutral, Adjective; Used when emphasizing disgust]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, news, and everyday conversations about horror or crime)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужасный: /ʊˈʒas.nɨj/

страшный: /ˈstraʂ.nɨj/

отвратительный: /ɐt.vra.tiˈtʲi.lʲnɨj/

Note on ужасный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the 'ж' sound, which is similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English.

Note on страшный: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, like 'sh' in 'she'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing horror, disgust, or revulsion (e.g., describing violent or macabre scenes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as describing crimes or accidents.
• страшный - Common in informal speech, often for everyday scary situations, but can overlap with gruesome in intensity.
• отвратительный - Applied when the gruesomeness involves strong disgust, like in descriptions of gore or unpleasant visuals.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм полон ужасных сцен насилия. (This movie is full of gruesome scenes of violence.)

  This movie is full of gruesome scenes of violence.

• Страшная авария оставила следы на дороге. (The gruesome accident left marks on the road.)

  The gruesome accident left marks on the road. (Note: Here, 'страшный' is used informally to convey a similar sense.)

• Омерзительная и отвратительная картина разрушения шокировала зрителей. (The gruesome and repulsive picture of destruction shocked the viewers.)

  The gruesome and repulsive picture of destruction shocked the viewers. (Demonstrates 'отвратительный' in a compound description.)

• В музее выставлены ужасные артефакты из времен войны. (The museum displays gruesome artifacts from wartime.)

  The museum displays gruesome artifacts from wartime. (Shows 'ужасный' in a formal, historical context.)

• Страшные детали преступления были раскрыты в суде. (The gruesome details of the crime were revealed in court.)

  The gruesome details of the crime were revealed in court. (Illustrates 'страшный' in a legal or narrative setting.)

Meaning 2: Extremely unpleasant or shocking in a visceral way (e.g., not just scary, but deeply disturbing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Preferred in written or formal descriptions to emphasize moral horror.
• отвратительный - Used when the gruesomeness involves sensory disgust, like smells or sights.

Usage Examples:

• Ужасная история о призраках держит в напряжении до конца. (The gruesome story about ghosts keeps you on edge until the end.)

  The gruesome story about ghosts keeps you on edge until the end.

• Отрицательный отзыв описывал отвратительную еду в ресторане. (The review described the gruesome food in the restaurant as utterly repulsive.)

  The review described the gruesome food in the restaurant as utterly repulsive.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations (ужасный, страшный, отвратительный) are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most cases.

Note: These are regular first-conjugation adjectives, so they follow standard patterns without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: страшный (similar but often less intense), отвратительный (emphasizes disgust), жуткий (eerie or creepy, used in informal contexts)
• Antonyms: приятный (pleasant), красивый (beautiful), безобидный (harmless; subtle difference: implies no threat)

Related Phrases:

• ужасная сцена - A gruesome scene (Used in narratives to describe violent events in films or books.)
• страшная история - A gruesome story (Common in folklore or horror genres, often told to children.)
• отвратительная картина - A gruesome picture (Refers to visual depictions that are disturbing, like in art or media.)

Usage Notes:

'Ужасный' is the most direct and formal equivalent to 'gruesome' in English, ideal for written contexts like journalism or literature. 'Страшный' is better for casual conversations and may not always convey the same level of disgust. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'отвратительный' if the gruesomeness involves sensory repulsion. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as Russian requires this for proper sentence structure.

• In formal writing, pair 'ужасный' with abstract nouns like 'событие' (event).
• Avoid overusing these in polite conversation, as they can intensify negative emotions.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing 'ужасный' with 'страшный', leading learners to use 'страшный' in formal contexts where 'ужасный' is more appropriate (e.g., saying "страшный инцидент" instead of "ужасный инцидент" in a news report). Incorrect form: "ужасный сцены" (wrong case agreement). Correct form: "ужасной сцены". Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect to match the noun's case, so always check agreement to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ужасный' are frequently used in literature and media influenced by historical events, such as wars or the Soviet era, to evoke deep emotional responses. For instance, Russian horror stories in folklore often employ these terms to highlight moral or existential dread, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• хоррор (horror)
• насилие (violence)
• страх (fear)