Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'horror'

English Word: horror

Key Russian Translations:

• ужас (/ˈuʐəs/) - [Formal, used for general contexts]
• хоррор (/xɐˈror/) - [Informal, Plural, often used in modern contexts like films or pop culture]

Frequency: Medium - The word 'ужас' is commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in literature, media, and conversations about fear, while 'хоррор' is more niche but increasing in use due to Western influences.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for 'ужас' - Requires understanding of noun declensions; C1 (Advanced) for 'хоррор' as it involves loanwords and cultural adaptation.

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужас: /ˈuʐəs/ - The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English.

хоррор: /xɐˈror/ - The initial 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.

Note on ужас: Be cautious with the stress on the first syllable; misplacing it can alter perception in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Intense fear or dread, often emotional or psychological.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужас - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe overwhelming fear, such as in horror stories or real-life traumatic events.
• хоррор - Informal, applied to genre-specific contexts like horror movies or books, often among younger audiences.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм полон ужасов, которые заставляют сердце биться чаще.

  This film is full of horrors that make your heart beat faster.

• В старом замке мы почувствовали настоящий ужас от таинственных звуков.

  In the old castle, we felt real horror from the mysterious sounds.

• Хоррор как жанр кино привлекает тех, кто любит адреналин.

  Horror as a film genre attracts those who love adrenaline.

• Её рассказы о войне наполнены ужасом и отчаянием.

  Her stories about the war are filled with horror and despair.

• В современном хорроре часто используют компьютерные эффекты для пугающих сцен.

  In modern horror, computer effects are often used for scary scenes.

Meaning 2: Something causing terror, such as a horrific event or object.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужас - Employed in descriptive narratives, e.g., historical or supernatural events.
• хоррор - Specific to entertainment, like "horror stories" in media.

Usage Examples:

• Ужас войны оставил неизгладимый след в их воспоминаниях.

  The horror of war left an indelible mark on their memories.

• Этот ужасный инцидент шокировал всю страну.

  This horrific incident shocked the entire country.

• Хоррор-фильмы часто включают элементы сверхъестественного.

  Horror films often include elements of the supernatural.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Ужас' is a masculine noun of the third declension with regular inflections. It changes based on case and number. 'Хоррор' is often treated as an indeclinable noun in modern Russian due to its loanword status.

For 'хоррор', it remains unchanged: Nominative/Accusative: хоррор; in other cases, it is often used as is, e.g., о хорроре (about horror).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страх (strakh) - More general fear, often less intense than ужас.
  • паника (panika) - Implies sudden, widespread fear, suitable for chaotic situations.
• Antonyms:
  • радость (radost) - Joy or happiness, directly opposing the negative emotion.
  • спокойствие (spokojstvie) - Calmness, emphasizing the absence of fear.

Related Phrases:

• Вызывать ужас - To cause horror; used to describe something that instills fear.
• Полный ужасов - Full of horrors; common in descriptions of scary stories or events.
• Хоррор-фильм - Horror film; a direct borrowing for genre-specific discussions.
• Ужас ночи - Horror of the night; often in literary or poetic contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Ужас' directly corresponds to 'horror' in emotional intensity but is more versatile in Russian, appearing in both everyday and formal language. Choose 'ужас' for literary or historical contexts, while 'хоррор' is better for modern, informal settings like entertainment. Be mindful of declensions to match sentence structure, as incorrect case usage can lead to grammatical errors. For example, use the genitive 'ужаса' after prepositions like 'из' (from).

• In formal writing, pair 'ужас' with adjectives for emphasis, e.g., "страшный ужас" (terrible horror).
• Avoid overusing 'хоррор' in academic contexts; it's more colloquial.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is incorrect declension of 'ужас', such as using the nominative form in all cases. For example, learners might say "о ужас" instead of the correct "об ужасе" (about horror). Correct usage: "Об ужасе войны" (About the horror of war). Another error is confusing 'ужас' with 'страх'; while both mean fear, 'ужас' implies greater intensity, so don't use it interchangeably in sentences like "Я чувствую ужас" when a milder fear is intended—opt for "страх" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ужас' often appears in literature, such as in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky or horror tales by Nikolai Gogol, symbolizing existential dread or supernatural elements. It reflects Russia's historical experiences with war and hardship, adding a layer of depth beyond simple fear, making it a staple in discussions of national identity and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• страх
• боязнь
• паника
• кошмар