Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| великоле́пный | velikolépnyj |
| прекра́сный | prekrásnyj |
The terms in this list are used to describe someone or something that is very beautiful.
What does it mean word for word?
The word великоле́пный is composed of the prefix вели– (great) and the root –леп– (related to shaping or molding/beauty), literally meaning 'greatly shaped' or 'magnificent'.
Which one should you use?
While both великоле́пный and прекра́сный mean 'gorgeous', великоле́пный carries a stronger connotation of grandeur, splendor or magnificence (like a palace or a grand performance), whereas прекра́сный is a more versatile and common way to say 'beautiful' or 'lovely'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe a feminine noun, the ending of великоле́пный changes to –ая, resulting in великоле́пная. To describe a neuter noun, the ending of великоле́пный changes to –ое, resulting in великоле́пное. To describe plural nouns, the ending of великоле́пный changes to –ые, resulting in великоле́пные.
How do you pronounce it?
velikolépnyj
Did you know?
- In Russian, великоле́пный is often used sarcastically to describe a total disaster, such as a 'gorgeous' mess or a 'magnificent' failure.
- The word прекра́сный contains the root –крас-, which is the same root found in the old Russian word кра́сный meaning 'red'.
- While 'gorgeous' in English is often used for people, using великоле́пный to describe a person's appearance can sound slightly archaic or overly poetic.
Examples in context
- Он всегда выглядит великолепно.He always looks magnificent.
- Ты сегодня выглядишь как настоящая красавица!You look like a real beauty today!
- Этот вид просто великоле́пный.Etot vid prosto velikolepnyy.This view is simply gorgeous.
- У тебя великоле́пный вкус.U tebya velikolepnyy vkus.You have gorgeous taste.
- Это был великоле́пный вечер.Eto byl velikolepnyy vecher.It was a gorgeous evening.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gorgeous” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
