Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gruff'

English Word: gruff

Key Russian Translations:

• Грубый [ˈɡrubɨj] - [Informal, often used for rude or rough behavior]
• Суровый [ˈsurəvɨj] - [Formal, implying stern or severe manner]
• Хриплый [ˈxrʲiplɨj] - [Used specifically for a hoarse or rough voice]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear in everyday conversations but are not among the most common adjectives in Russian media or literature.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it requires understanding nuances of adjectives and their contextual usage; for "Грубый", it's straightforward, but "Суровый" may need more cultural context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Грубый: [ˈɡrubɨj]

Суровый: [ˈsurəvɨj]

Хриплый: [ˈxrʲiplɨj]

Note on Грубый: The initial "Г" is a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds similar to the "g" in "go" but with more guttural emphasis.

Note on Хриплый: The "Х" is an unvoiced fricative, like the "ch" in Scottish "loch"; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Rough or harsh in manner, often implying rudeness or abruptness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Грубый - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is blunt or uncivil, such as in casual conversations or arguments.
• Суровый - Applied in more formal or serious contexts, like describing a strict authority figure.

Usage Examples:

• Его грубый тон отпугивал людей на встречах. (His gruff tone scared people away at meetings.)

  English Translation: His gruff tone scared people away at meetings.

• Она ответила грубым отказом, не желая продолжать разговор. (She replied with a gruff refusal, not wanting to continue the conversation.)

  English Translation: She replied with a gruff refusal, not wanting to continue the conversation.

• В суровом климате люди становятся более грубыми в общении. (In the gruff climate, people become more gruff in their communication.)

  English Translation: In the harsh climate, people become more gruff in their communication.

• Суровый начальник всегда говорит грубым голосом. (The gruff boss always speaks in a gruff voice.)

  English Translation: The gruff boss always speaks in a gruff voice.

Meaning 2: Hoarse or low-pitched in voice, suggesting a rough sound.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Хриплый - Specifically for vocal qualities, often in descriptions of speech or singing.
• Грубый - Can extend to voice if emphasizing roughness, but less common than Хриплый.

Usage Examples:

• Его хриплый голос звучал как у старого моряка. (His gruff voice sounded like that of an old sailor.)

  English Translation: His gruff voice sounded like that of an old sailor.

• После простуды у неё стал хриплый и грубый голос. (After the cold, her voice became gruff and hoarse.)

  English Translation: After the cold, her voice became gruff and hoarse.

• Певец использовал хриплый тон, чтобы передать эмоции песни. (The singer used a gruff tone to convey the song's emotions.)

  English Translation: The singer used a gruff tone to convey the song's emotions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ("Грубый", "Суровый", "Хриплый") are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. Below is a table for "Грубый" as an example; similar patterns apply to the others with slight phonetic variations.

For "Суровый" and "Хриплый", the inflections are regular and follow the same table structure. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Жесткий (zhestkiy) - Similar to "грубый" but often implies more rigidity; used for strict rules or people.
  • Резкий (rezkiy) - For abrupt or sharp manner, especially in speech.
• Antonyms:
  • Мягкий (myagkiy) - Soft or gentle, contrasting with the harshness of "gruff".
  • Ласковый (laskovyy) - Affectionate or tender, particularly in voice or behavior.

Related Phrases:

• Грубый голос (grubyy golos) - Gruff voice; used to describe a rough-sounding speech in storytelling.
• Суровый взгляд (surovyy vzlyad) - Gruff look; implies a stern or intimidating expression.
• Хриплый шепот (khrplyy shepot) - Gruff whisper; a phrase for a hoarse, low whisper in dramatic contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Gruff" in English often carries a connotation of unintentional rudeness, but in Russian, translations like "Грубый" can sound more deliberately harsh. Choose "Суровый" for formal or professional contexts to avoid offense. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For voice-related uses, "Хриплый" is the most precise match and is commonly used in descriptions of characters in literature or media.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "Грубый" interchangeably with "Суровый" without context, leading to overuse in formal settings.
  Correct: Opt for "Суровый" when describing authority figures; e.g., Incorrect: "Грубый учитель" (might imply rudeness), Correct: "Суровый учитель" (implies strictness without negativity).
• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, such as saying "Грубый дом" instead of the correct form in other cases.
  Correct: In genitive, use "Грубого дома"; this ensures grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Грубый" or "Суровый" often reflect the historical influence of harsh climates and authoritarian traditions, such as in literature by authors like Dostoevsky, where gruff characters symbolize resilience or inner strength rather than pure negativity.

Related Concepts:

• Жестокий (zhestokiy) - Cruel
• Строгий (strogiy) - Strict
• Громкий (gromkiy) - Loud (often paired with voice descriptions)