Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'horrid'

English Word: horrid

Key Russian Translations:

• Ужасный [ˈuʐəsnɨj] - [Informal; often used in everyday contexts to describe something extremely unpleasant or shocking]
• Страшный [ˈstraʂnɨj] - [Formal; implies a sense of fear or terror, suitable for more intense or literary descriptions]
• Отвратительный [ɐtvrəˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Informal; emphasizes disgust or revulsion, particularly for repulsive situations]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in Russian literature, media, and daily conversation, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections and nuances may require practice. For 'ужасный', it's B1; for 'страшный', it might lean towards B2 due to contextual subtleties.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ужасный: [ˈuʐəsnɨj] (The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Stress on the first syllable.)

Note on Ужасный: Be cautious with the soft 'с' in some dialects, which can vary slightly; in standard Russian, it's pronounced as indicated.

Страшный: [ˈstraʂnɨj] (The 'ш' is a voiceless retroflex fricative, like 'sh' in 'sheep'. Stress on the first syllable.)

Note on Страшный: In rapid speech, the 'р' might be lightly rolled; this word has no major pronunciation variants.

Отвратительный: [ɐtvrəˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'тʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer.)

Note on Отвратительный: This longer word can be challenging for beginners due to its length and palatalized consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Extremely unpleasant or causing distress

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ужасный - Used in informal settings to describe something horrid in a general sense, such as bad weather or a disappointing experience.
• Страшный - Applied in formal or narrative contexts for something that evokes fear, like a horrid nightmare.
• Отвратительный - Best for contexts involving disgust, such as a horrid smell or taste.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Этот фильм был ужасным; я не смог досмотреть до конца.

  English Translation: This film was horrid; I couldn't watch it to the end. (Shows 'ужасный' in a casual review context.)

• Русский пример: В старом замке царила страшная атмосфера, полная тайн и ужасов.

  English Translation: In the old castle, there was a horrid atmosphere full of mysteries and horrors. (Illustrates 'страшный' in a literary or descriptive setting.)

• Русский пример: Еда в этом ресторане отвратительная; никогда больше туда не пойду.

  English Translation: The food in this restaurant is horrid; I'll never go back. (Demonstrates 'отвратительный' for sensory disgust.)

• Русский пример: Ужасный дождь испортил наш пикник, но мы нашли способ развлечься.

  English Translation: The horrid rain ruined our picnic, but we found a way to have fun. (Varied grammar with 'ужасный' in a weather context.)

• Русский пример: Страшный крик эхом разнёсся по лесу, заставив всех замолчать.

  English Translation: The horrid scream echoed through the forest, making everyone go silent. (Shows 'страшный' in a dramatic, narrative structure.)

Secondary Meaning: Morally reprehensible or wicked

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ужасный - In ethical discussions, to describe horrid behavior or actions.
• Отвратительный - For horrid deeds that cause moral disgust.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Его ужасные поступки шокировали всю семью.

  English Translation: His horrid actions shocked the entire family. (Focuses on 'ужасный' in a moral context.)

• Русский пример: Отвратительная ложь разрушила их дружбу навсегда.

  English Translation: The horrid lie destroyed their friendship forever. (Uses 'отвратительный' for emphasis on revulsion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('Ужасный', 'Страшный', 'Отвратительный') are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives, with variations for hard and soft stems. 'Ужасный' and 'Страшный' are regular, while 'Отвратительный' is also regular but longer.

For these adjectives, there are no irregular inflections, but always agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Плохой (bad, with a general negative connotation), Гадкий (nasty, implying meanness), Жуткий (creepy, for eerie horridness) - Note: 'Жуткий' is often used in informal contexts for a spooky or horrid atmosphere.
• Antonyms: Хороший (good), Прекрасный (wonderful), Приятный (pleasant)

Related Phrases:

• Ужасный день - A horrid day (Refers to a day full of misfortunes or bad events).
• Страшная история - A horrid story (Typically a scary tale or narrative).
• Отвратительная погода - Horrid weather (Describes unpleasant, disgusting weather conditions).

Usage Notes:

'Horrid' in English often carries a strong emotional weight, similar to 'ужасный' in Russian, but choose based on context: use 'ужасный' for everyday unpleasantness, 'страшный' for fear-inducing scenarios, and 'отвратительный' for disgust. Be mindful of formality—'страшный' suits written or formal speech, while the others are versatile. Grammatically, always inflect to match the noun, e.g., 'ужасный дом' (horrid house) vs. 'ужасную книгу' (horrid book). When selecting among translations, consider the audience; 'отвратительный' might be too strong in polite conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ужасный' interchangeably with 'страшный' without considering intensity. For example, learners might say "Страшный погода" instead of "Ужасная погода" for horrid weather.
  Correct: Ужасная погода (horrid weather) – Explanation: 'Страшный' implies terror, not just unpleasantness, so it doesn't fit casual contexts.
• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "Ужасный книга" instead of "Ужасная книга".
  Correct: Ужасная книга – Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender; 'книга' is feminine, so use the feminine form.
• Error: Overusing 'отвратительный' in non-disgust contexts, which can sound overly dramatic.
  Correct: Use 'ужасный' for general horridness – Explanation: This maintains natural tone and avoids exaggeration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ужасный' or 'страшный' often appear in folklore and literature (e.g., in fairy tales by Pushkin), where horrid elements symbolize moral lessons or the unknown. They reflect a cultural emphasis on expressing strong emotions, but they don't carry unique historical connotations beyond general Slavic storytelling traditions.

Related Concepts:

• Гадкий (nasty)
• Жуткий (eerie)
• Кошмарный (nightmarish)