краси́вый
krasívyj
The English word handsome is translated into Russian as краси́вый (krasívyj). Wiktionary also lists привлека́тельный (privlekátelʹnyj).
Meaning: of man: attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| краси́вый | krasívyj |
| привлека́тельный | privlekátelʹnyj |
Which one should you use?
While краси́вый is the standard word for handsome when describing a man, it is also the most common word for beautiful when describing women, objects or scenery. If you wish to specifically emphasize the quality of being attractive, you can use привлека́тельный.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective краси́вый changes its form based on its role in a sentence. When describing a man as the direct object of a verb, such as in 'I see a handsome man', use the form краси́вого. If using the adjective in the dative case, such as 'to the handsome man', use краси́вому. When referring to a group of people (either men or women), use the plural form краси́вые.
How do you pronounce it?
krasívyj
Did you know?
- The Russian word краси́вый shares a root with the verb краси́ть, which means 'to paint' or 'to color'. This implies that being handsome or beautiful is linked to the idea of being 'well-colored' or 'decorated'.
- To describe someone as 'strikingly handsome' in a way that is almost intimidating, Russians might use the word эфе́ктный, which shares a root with the English word 'effective'.
- In Russian folk tales, the phrase краса́вец is often used to describe a prince, functioning as a noun that means 'a handsome man' rather than just an adjective.
Examples in context
- Он очень красивыйHe is very handsome
- Он обаятельный мужчинаHe is a charming man
- Ты такой красавчик!You are such a handsome man!
- У Вас очень привлекательное лицоYou have a very attractive face
- Этот актёр очень краси́вый.Etot aktyor ochen' krasivyy.This actor is very handsome.
- У тебя краси́вый сын.U tebya krasivyy syn.You have a handsome son.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handsome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
