Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'monstrous'

English Word: monstrous

Key Russian Translations:

• чудовищный [t͡ɕʊˈdovʲɪʂnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• ужасный [ʊˈʐasnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday speech for emphasis]
• огромный [ɐˈɡromnɨj] - [Neutral, Adjective, Often for size rather than horror]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, news, and descriptive language, but not in casual daily conversation.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, though mastering inflections may require additional practice. For "ужасный", it's A2 (Beginner) due to its simplicity; for "чудовищный", it's B2 (Upper-Intermediate) because of its formal tone and spelling.

Pronunciation (Russian):

чудовищный: [t͡ɕʊˈdovʲɪʂnɨj]

ужасный: [ʊˈʐasnɨj]

огромный: [ɐˈɡromnɨj]

Note on чудовищный: The "щ" sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers, as it's similar to "sh" but more palatalized; practice with native audio to avoid pronouncing it as [ʃ].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely large, huge, or enormous (emphasizing size)

Translation(s) & Context:

• огромный - Used in neutral or positive contexts to describe something of immense size, such as in scientific or everyday descriptions.
• чудовищный - Applied in formal or negative contexts to imply something overwhelmingly large and possibly intimidating.

Usage Examples:

• В городе стоит чудовищный небоскреб, который виден издалека.

  In the city stands a monstrous skyscraper that is visible from afar.

• Его огромный рюкзак занял все место в багажнике.

  His enormous backpack took up all the space in the trunk.

• Эта огромная волна чудовищного размера обрушилась на берег.

  This huge wave of monstrous size crashed onto the shore.

• Огромный выбор книг в библиотеке кажется чудовищным для новичка.

  The enormous selection of books in the library seems monstrous to a beginner.

Meaning 2: Frightening, horrible, or monstrous in a negative sense (emphasizing abnormality or terror)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Used in informal settings to express strong disapproval or fear, common in spoken language.
• чудовищный - Reserved for formal or literary contexts to denote something grotesque or morally reprehensible.

Usage Examples:

• Его чудовищное поведение на вечеринке шокировало всех гостей.

  His monstrous behavior at the party shocked all the guests.

• Ужасный шторм разрушил дома в деревне.

  The horrible storm destroyed houses in the village.

• Чудовищная несправедливость в суде вызвала общественный протест.

  The monstrous injustice in the court sparked public protest.

• Ужасный вид фильма заставил меня проснуться среди ночи.

  The monstrous appearance in the movie made me wake up in the middle of the night.

• Её ужасный крик эхом разнёсся по коридору.

  Her monstrous scream echoed down the hallway.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like "чудовищный" and "ужасный" follow standard short and long form patterns, with "огромный" being more regular.

For invariable forms in certain contexts (e.g., in short form adjectives), they remain unchanged, but this is less common.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: огромный (similar for size, but less intense), гигантский (emphasizes giant-like scale), страшный (focuses on fear)
• Antonyms: маленький (small), милый (cute or pleasant), нормальный (normal or average) - Note: "маленький" is often used for size, while "нормальный" contrasts with abnormality.

Related Phrases:

• чудовищная ошибка - A monstrous mistake; used in formal contexts to describe a grave error with severe consequences.
• ужасный вид - A horrible sight; common in everyday language for something visually shocking.
• огромный успех - Enormous success; implies overwhelming achievement, often in professional settings.
• чудовищное преступление - A monstrous crime; refers to heinous acts in legal or news contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Чудовищный" is the most direct translation for "monstrous" in formal English contexts, capturing both size and horror, but it's less common in casual speech. Use "ужасный" for informal situations to avoid sounding overly literary. "Огромный" is best for size alone. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, as adjectives must match the noun's case, number, and gender. When choosing between translations, consider the context: opt for "чудовищный" in written or professional English equivalents, and "ужасный" for spoken language.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "чудовищный" in informal settings, e.g., saying "чудовищный день" instead of "ужасный день" for "a monstrous day." Correct: "Ужасный день" is more natural in casual talk. Explanation: "Чудовищный" sounds overly dramatic and may confuse listeners in everyday contexts.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "чудовищный женщина" instead of "чудовищная женщина." Correct: Always inflect based on the noun's gender. Explanation: Russian requires strict agreement, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors for beginners.

• Error: Confusing with nouns, e.g., using "чудовище" (monster) as an adjective. Correct: Use the adjectival form like "чудовищный." Explanation: "Чудовище" is a noun, so it doesn't fit in adjective slots, potentially altering the sentence meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "чудовищный" often evoke themes from folklore, such as in fairy tales by authors like Pushkin, where monsters (чудовища) represent chaos or moral lessons. This adds a layer of historical connotation, making it more vivid in literature than in everyday English usage.

Related Concepts:

• страшный
• гигантский
• ненормальный
• кошмарный