Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'terrible'

English Word: terrible

Key Russian Translations:

• Ужасный /uˈʐasnɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech for something very bad or unpleasant]
• Страшный /ˈstraʂnɨj/ - [Formal or literal, often implying something frightening or dreadful]
• Плохой /ˈploχoj/ - [Informal, less intense, used for general bad quality]

Frequency: Medium - The word 'terrible' and its translations are encountered regularly in spoken and written Russian, especially in descriptive contexts.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but nuances in context may require further practice. For 'ужасный', it's B1; for 'страшный', it might lean towards B2 due to its emotional connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ужасный: /uˈʐasnɨj/

Страшный: /ˈstraʂnɨj/

Плохой: /ˈploχoj/

Note on Ужасный: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely bad or unpleasant (e.g., describing quality, weather, or experiences)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ужасный - Used in casual conversations to express strong dissatisfaction, such as with food or movies.
• Страшный - Applied in more serious contexts, like describing a scary event or person.
• Плохой - For milder criticism, often in everyday situations like commenting on service.

Usage Examples:

• Это ужасный день для прогулки. (Eto uzhasnyy den' dlya progulki.)

  This is a terrible day for a walk. (Context: Referring to bad weather.)

• Фильм был страшный, я не смог досмотреть. (Film byl strashnyy, ya ne smog dosmotret'.)

  The movie was terrible; I couldn't finish watching it. (Context: Emphasizing fear or horror.)

• Еда в этом ресторане плохая. (Eda v etom restorane plokhaya.)

  The food in this restaurant is terrible. (Context: General poor quality.)

• Ужасный вкус у этого чая! (Uzhasnyy vkus u etogo chaya!)

  This tea has a terrible taste! (Context: Expressing strong dislike in a social setting.)

Meaning 2: Causing fear or distress (e.g., in emotional or dramatic contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Страшный - Ideal for narratives involving horror or intense emotions.
• Ужасный - Can overlap, but often used hyperbolically in modern speech.

Usage Examples:

• Страшный шторм разрушил дома. (Strashnyy shtorm razrushil doma.)

  A terrible storm destroyed homes. (Context: Describing a destructive event.)

• Это был ужасный опыт в моей жизни. (Eto byl uzhasnyy opyt v moyey zhizni.)

  It was a terrible experience in my life. (Context: Personal reflection on a traumatic event.)

• Плохой выбор привел к страшным последствиям. (Plokhoy vybor privel k strashnym posledstviyam.)

  A terrible choice led to dreadful consequences. (Context: Linking poor decisions to outcomes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Ужасный' and 'Страшный' follow standard first-declension adjective patterns, while 'Плохой' is irregular in some forms.

Note: These adjectives do not change for verbs but agree with nouns in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отвратительный (otvratitel'nyy) - More intense, implying disgust.
  • Жуткий (zhutkiy) - Informal, similar to 'creepy' or 'awful'.
• Antonyms:
  • Хороший (khoroshiy) - Good.
  • Прекрасный (prekrasnyy) - Wonderful or excellent.

Related Phrases:

• Ужасно холодно (Uzhasno kholodno) - Terribly cold; used to describe extreme weather.
• Страшная ошибка (Strashnaya oshibka) - Terrible mistake; in contexts of regret or consequences.
• Плохая погода (Plokhaya pogoda) - Bad weather; a common everyday phrase.

Usage Notes:

'Terrible' often translates to 'ужасный' in informal settings for emphasis, but 'страшный' is better for literal fear. Choose based on context: use 'плохой' for neutral badness. Be aware of agreement with nouns in Russian sentences, e.g., 'ужасный' changes form. In formal writing, opt for less hyperbolic options to avoid exaggeration.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'ужасный' interchangeably with 'страшный' without considering intensity. Incorrect: Страшный фильм (when meaning just bad, not scary). Correct: Ужасный фильм. Explanation: 'Страшный' implies fear, so it can mislead in non-horror contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying 'ужасный дом' for a feminine noun. Incorrect: Ужасный машина (for car, which is feminine). Correct: Ужасная машина. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ужасный' are often used hyperbolically in everyday speech to express frustration, reflecting a cultural tendency towards emotional expressiveness. For instance, Russians might describe a minor inconvenience as 'ужасный' for dramatic effect, which can differ from more reserved English usage.

Related Concepts:

• Кошмарный (koshmarnyy) - Nightmarish.
• Гадкий (gadkiy) - Nasty or ugly.
• Мерзкий (merzkiy) - Disgusting.