Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'thunderous'

English Word: thunderous

Key Russian Translations:

• громовой [ɡrɐˈmovɨj] - [Formal, Literary; used to describe sounds resembling thunder]
• грохочущий [ɡrɐxɐˈt͡ɕiʂɨj] - [Informal; used for rumbling or booming sounds in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary, descriptive, or poetic language, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual usage; for 'громовой', it's slightly more advanced due to its formal connotations, while 'грохочущий' is B2 for its verbal nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

громовой: [ɡrɐˈmovɨj]

грохочущий: [ɡrɐxɐˈt͡ɕiʂɨj]

Note on громовой: The stress falls on the second syllable ('mo'), and the 'о' sound can vary slightly in rapid speech; be mindful of the soft sign (ы) which affects vowel pronunciation.

Note on грохочущий: This word has a harder 'x' sound, similar to a guttural 'h' in English, which non-native speakers often soften—practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Resembling thunder in sound, intensity, or effect (e.g., a loud, booming noise).

Translation(s) & Context:

• громовой - Used in formal, literary, or descriptive contexts, such as describing natural phenomena or dramatic events in writing.
• грохочущий - Applied in informal or dynamic settings, like describing machinery, crowds, or everyday loud noises.

Usage Examples:

• Громовой раскат прогремел над горами, заставив всех замолчать.

  The thunderous roll echoed over the mountains, making everyone fall silent.

• Его громовой голос эхом отражался в зале, подчеркивая важность речи.

  His thunderous voice reverberated through the hall, emphasizing the importance of the speech.

• Грохочущий звук мотора разбудил весь квартал в ранние утренние часы.

  The thunderous sound of the engine woke up the entire neighborhood in the early morning hours.

• В бурю море становилось грохочущим, как будто оно пыталось соперничать с небом.

  In the storm, the sea became thunderous, as if it were trying to rival the sky.

• Громовой апплодисменты аудитории отметили конец концерта.

  The thunderous applause from the audience marked the end of the concert.

Meaning: Figuratively intense or overwhelming (e.g., in emotional or metaphorical contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• громовой - Often used metaphorically in formal writing to convey power or impact.
• грохочущий - Less common in figurative use, but can describe chaotic or forceful situations informally.

Usage Examples:

• Громовой смех толпы разнесся по улицам во время праздника.

  The thunderous laughter of the crowd spread through the streets during the festival.

• Ее грохочущий гнев был слышен издалека, но быстро утих.

  Her thunderous anger was heard from afar, but it quickly subsided.

• Громовой рев толпы на стадионе заставил сердце биться чаще.

  The thunderous roar of the crowd at the stadium made hearts beat faster.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'громовой' and 'грохочущий' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem words. Below is a table for 'громовой' (as it is more common); 'грохочущий' follows similar rules but may vary slightly in active participle forms.

For 'грохочущий', it is an active participle and inflects similarly but can change to 'грохочущая' in feminine forms. These adjectives do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • громкий (louder, more general; differs by being less specifically thunder-like)
  • ревущий (roaring; used for animal or wind sounds, implying a wilder context)
• Antonyms:
  • тихий (quiet; opposite in volume)
  • шепотный (whispering; for very soft sounds)

Related Phrases:

• Громовой голос - A thunderous voice; used to describe a loud, commanding speaker in formal settings.
• Грохочущий гром - Thunderous thunder; a redundant phrase for emphasis in literary descriptions of storms.
• Громовой раскат - Thunderous roll; common in weather-related contexts or metaphors for sudden events.

Usage Notes:

'Громовой' is the more precise translation for 'thunderous' in formal or literary English contexts, as it directly evokes thunder, while 'грохочущий' suits informal, dynamic scenarios like machinery or crowds. Choose based on register: use 'громовой' for written or poetic language to maintain a dramatic tone, and 'грохочущий' for spoken Russian to convey immediacy. Grammatically, always inflect these adjectives to agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. English learners should note that Russian adjectives often carry more nuanced connotations, so 'громовой' might imply awe or power, unlike the neutral 'thunderous'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'громкий' interchangeably with 'громовой', assuming they mean the same thing. Correct: 'Громкий' means simply 'loud', while 'громовой' specifically implies a thunder-like quality. Example of error: "Громкий раскат" (incorrect for thunderous); Correct: "Громовой раскат". This mistake overlooks the metaphorical depth.

• Error: Failing to inflect the adjective properly, e.g., using 'громовой' with a feminine noun without changing to 'громовая'. Correct: Instead of "громовой женщина" (wrong), say "громовая женщина" for "thunderous woman" in a metaphorical sense. Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement, which English speakers often forget.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'громовой' often carry symbolic weight from folklore and literature, such as in references to thunderstorms in Slavic myths where thunder represents divine power (e.g., associated with Perun, the Slavic god of thunder). This can add a layer of poetic intensity in modern usage, making 'thunderous' descriptions more evocative in Russian texts than in English.

Related Concepts:

• гром (thunder)
• буря (storm)
• рев (roar)