Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'horrendous'

English Word: horrendous

Key Russian Translations:

• Ужасный [ʊˈʐasnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal, Used to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant]
• Страшный [ˈstraʂnɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Often implies a sense of fear or horror, but can overlap with 'horrendous' in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian speech and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like 'хороший').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding adjective declensions and contextual usage, which may challenge beginners but is manageable for intermediate learners per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ужасный: [ʊˈʐasnɨj] (The stress is on the second syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Страшный: [ˈstraʂnɨj] (Stress on the first syllable; note the soft 'ш' sound, which is a voiceless retroflex fricative.)

Note on Ужасный: Be cautious with the 'ж' sound, as it's not present in English; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on Страшный: This word can have regional variations in pronunciation, especially in softer dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or of very poor quality (e.g., describing something awful in appearance, taste, or behavior).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ужасный - Used in general contexts to emphasize severity, such as in descriptions of weather, food, or experiences (e.g., in casual conversations or formal writing).
• Страшный - Applied in contexts involving fear or intense negativity, often in informal storytelling or emotional descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Эта погода просто ужасная; дождь льёт не переставая. (Eta pogoda prosto uzhasnaya; dozh' lyot ne perestavaya.)

  English: This weather is simply horrendous; the rain just won't stop.

• Русский: Фильм был страшный, я не смог досмотреть до конца. (Film byl strashnyy, ya ne smog dosmotret' do kontsa.)

  English: The movie was horrendous; I couldn't watch it until the end.

• Русский: Ужасная еда в этом ресторане отпугнула всех посетителей. (Uzhasnaya yeda v etom restorane otpugla vsekh posetiteley.)

  English: The horrendous food at this restaurant scared away all the customers.

• Русский: Её поведение на вечеринке было просто страшным и неуместным. (Yeyo povedeniye na vecherinke bylo prosto strashnym i neumesnym.)

  English: Her behavior at the party was horrendous and inappropriate.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Ужасный' and 'Страшный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Here's a breakdown:

These adjectives decline regularly, following the standard first-declension pattern. For irregular cases or when used with certain nouns, consult a full declension chart. They do not change in predicative position (e.g., after 'быть' - to be).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Жуткий [ʐʊtʲkʲɪj] - More informal, emphasizing a creepy or eerie quality.
  • Кошмарный [kɐʂˈmarɨnɨj] - Implies something nightmarish, often used in dramatic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Хороший [xɐˈroʂɨj] - Good or nice, direct opposite in positive descriptions.
  • Прекрасный [prʲɪˈkrasnɨj] - Wonderful or excellent, used for highly positive attributes.

Related Phrases:

• Ужасная погода - (Horrendous weather; used to complain about extreme or unpleasant conditions.)
• Страшный сон - (Horrendous dream; refers to a nightmare or frightening experience.)
• Ужасный вкус - (Horrendous taste; describes poor aesthetic or sensory judgment.)

Usage Notes:

'Ужасный' directly corresponds to 'horrendous' in intensity, making it ideal for emphatic descriptions, but it's versatile across formal and informal settings. 'Страшный' might be chosen for contexts involving fear. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as per Russian grammar rules. For example, use 'ужасная' for feminine nouns. When selecting between translations, opt for 'ужасный' in everyday complaints and 'страшный' in narrative or emotional scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "ужасный книга" instead of "ужасная книга" for a feminine noun like 'книга' (book).

  Correct: Ужасная книга (Horrendous book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake can make the sentence sound ungrammatical to native speakers.

• Error: Overusing 'страшный' in non-fear-related contexts, e.g., "страшный еда" when 'ужасный' is more appropriate for bad food.

  Correct: Ужасная еда. Explanation: 'Страшный' implies terror, which might exaggerate the meaning; choose based on nuance to avoid confusion.

Cultural Notes:

Words like 'ужасный' and 'страшный' reflect Russia's rich literary tradition, often appearing in works by authors like Dostoevsky to describe existential dread or societal flaws. In everyday culture, they are used hyperbolically in conversations, emphasizing the Russian penchant for expressive language in discussing life's hardships.

Related Concepts:

• Кошмарный
• Жуткий
• Страх