Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'handsome'

English Word: handsome

Key Russian Translations:

• красивый [krɐˈsʲivɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal, Used for people or objects, often implying attractiveness in men]
• привлекательный [prʲɪvˈlʲekɐtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in more neutral or broader contexts, such as physical appeal in social or professional settings]
• симпатичный [sʲɪmˈpatʲɪtɕnɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Commonly used for casual descriptions, especially for men or cute appearances]

Frequency: High - "красивый" and its variants are frequently used in everyday Russian conversation, literature, and media.

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1) - These words involve basic adjective inflections, suitable for learners at an intermediate level; "красивый" may vary slightly in formality across contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

красивый: [krɐˈsʲivɨj]

Note on красивый: The stress is on the second syllable; pay attention to the soft 'sʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

привлекательный: [prʲɪvˈlʲekɐtʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on привлекательный: Emphasize the 'lʲ' sound for accuracy; this word is often pronounced more deliberately in formal speech.

симпатичный: [sʲɪmˈpatʲɪtɕnɨj]

Note on симпатичный: The 'tɕ' sound is similar to the English 'ch' in "church"; it's informal and flows quickly in conversation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Attractive appearance, especially for men

Translation(s) & Context:

• красивый - Used in everyday contexts to describe physical attractiveness, such as in personal compliments or descriptions.
• привлекательный - Applied in more professional or objective settings, like job interviews or dating profiles.
• симпатичный - Informal, often for light-hearted or affectionate descriptions among friends.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень красивый мужчина. (He is a very handsome man.)

  Translation: He is a very handsome man. (This example shows the adjective in a simple nominative context, describing a person directly.)

• Этот актер всегда выглядит привлекательным на экране. (This actor always looks handsome on screen.)

  Translation: This actor always looks handsome on screen. (Illustrates use in media or visual contexts, with the adjective in the instrumental case implicitly.)

• Мой друг симпатичный, но он не осознает этого. (My friend is handsome, but he doesn't realize it.)

  Translation: My friend is handsome, but he doesn't realize it. (Demonstrates informal usage in personal relationships, highlighting self-awareness.)

• В этой фотографии ты выглядишь красивым и уверенным. (In this photo, you look handsome and confident.)

  Translation: In this photo, you look handsome and confident. (Shows combination with other adjectives in a visual description.)

• Привлекательный внешний вид помогает в бизнесе. (A handsome appearance helps in business.)

  Translation: A handsome appearance helps in business. (Emphasizes professional contexts, where the word might imply more than just looks.)

Secondary Meaning: Impressive or substantial (e.g., in non-physical contexts, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красивый - Rarely used metaphorically, e.g., for impressive sums of money.

Usage Examples:

• Это красивый подарок! (This is a handsome gift!)

  Translation: This is a handsome gift! (Here, it implies something generous or impressive, extending beyond physical appearance.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow regular patterns for first-conjugation adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once the patterns are memorized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • красивый - Often interchangeable with симпатичный in informal settings, but красивый implies a more classic beauty.
  • привлекательный - Similar to заманчивый (alluring), used when emphasizing charm over pure looks.
  • симпатичный - Close to милый (cute), especially for endearing appearances.
• Antonyms:
  • уродливый (ugly)
  • непривлекательный (unattractive)
  • некрасивый (not handsome)

Related Phrases:

• красивый мужчина - (A handsome man; used in descriptions of appearance in social contexts.)
• привлекательная внешность - (Handsome appearance; common in professional or dating scenarios.)
• симпатичный парень - (A handsome guy; informal, often in casual conversations about crushes.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "handsome" translations like "красивый" directly correspond to physical attractiveness but can vary by gender and context—use "красивый" for masculine subjects and adjust for feminine (e.g., красивая for women). Be mindful of formality: "привлекательный" is safer in professional settings, while "симпатичный" suits casual talk. Grammar-wise, always inflect adjectives to match the noun's case, number, and gender to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the base form "красивый" without inflection, e.g., saying "Он красивый дом" instead of "Он красивый дом" (correct, but if in another case, like genitive: "красивого дома").

  Correct Usage: Он красивый дом (He has a handsome house) vs. Error: Он красивый (without context). Explanation: Adjectives must agree with nouns; learners often forget case changes, leading to grammatical inconsistencies.

• Error: Confusing with English connotations, e.g., translating "handsome" as only "красивый" for women, ignoring "красивая".

  Correct Usage: Она красивая (She is handsome/beautiful). Explanation: Russian adjectives gender-agree, so misuse can alter meaning or sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "красивый" often carry deeper aesthetic appreciation, influenced by literature (e.g., Tolstoy's descriptions of characters). There's a cultural emphasis on physical beauty in social interactions, but it's balanced with modesty, so compliments might be indirect to avoid seeming overly forward.

Related Concepts:

• красиво (beautifully, adverb)
• привлекательность (attractiveness, noun)
• симпатия (sympathy or charm)