круто́й
krutój
The English word 'steep' is translated into Russian as круто́й (krutój).
круто́й is used to describe something that is near-vertical.
Meaning: near-vertical (adj)
Which one should you use?
While круто́й means 'steep' in a physical sense (like a slope), it is also used in slang to mean 'cool' or 'tough'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of крутой is крутая, the neuter form is крутое and the plural form is крутые.
How do you pronounce it?
krutój
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the adjective круто́й when you want to say 'to steep' in the context of making tea. Instead, use the verb заваривать.
Did you know?
- In Russian slang, a 'cool' person is крутой, but the word is related to the root for 'circle' or 'spinning' круг, suggesting a certain intensity or whirlwind energy.
- Russian uses крутой for 'steep' when talking about a hill, but for a 'steep' price increase, they often use резкий, meaning 'sharp' or 'sudden'.
- While крутой can mean 'cool' in a positive sense, it is also used to describe a person who is arrogant or overly 'tough' in a way that others find off-putting.
Examples in context
- Эта горная вершина очень крутая.This mountain peak is very steep.
- Это место – полный крутяк!This place is totally awesome!
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are hiking up a mountain.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, посмотри, какой круто́й склон!Sergey, posmotri, kakoy krutoy sklon!Sergey, look how steep the slope is!
- Сергей SergeyДа, подниматься будет тяжело.Da, podnimat'sya budet tyazhelo.Yes, it will be hard to climb.
- Ольга OlgaНам нужно быть осторожными.Nam nuzhno byt' ostorozhnymi.We need to be careful.
- Сергей SergeyСогласен, пойдём медленно.Soglasen, poydyom medlenno.I agree, let's go slowly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “steep” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
