Thread: Nick's Journal of Coversations, conjugations, and crazy ideas in general

I find it interesting that some words such as красный и красивый или прекрасный are so similar. We often subconsciously associate красный with красивый.

Originally Posted by nwestnj

I find it interesting that some words such as красный и красивый или прекрасный are so similar. We often subconsciously associate красный with красивый.

Well noticed! Ethymologically, the modern Russian word for red "красный" used to mean "beautiful" in earlier times. So, "красный" and "красивый" are of the same root indeed. Sometimes this archaic use of "красный" (in the sense of beauty, not color) is still preserved in fixed expressions or proverbs.

Another interesting fact for you that the famous Red Square in Moscow was translated into English a wrong way. Even many contemporary Russians believe its name (Красная Площадь) really means "Red Square", but it is not correct. It is an old name, and it has to be translated as "Beautiful Square" instead. BTW, the stone which covers the Red Square is not red at all and never was, it is gray in fact.

Originally Posted by Боб Уайтман

Ethymologically, the modern Russian word for red "красный" used to mean "beautiful" in earlier times. So, "красный" and "красивый" are of the same root indeed. Sometimes this archaic use of "красный" (in the sense of beauty, not color) is still preserved in fixed expressions or proverbs.

Another interesting fact for you that the famous Red Square in Moscow was translated into English a wrong way. Even many contemporary Russians believe its name (Красная Площадь) really means "Red Square", but it is not correct. It is an old name, and it has to be translated as "Beautiful Square" instead. BTW, the stone which covers the Red Square is not red at all and never was, it is gray in fact.

Wow!! Thanks for dropping this message here Боб. Its one of the reason I enjoy learning this new language, just getting insight to another culture and history gives me what I am seeking.

Originally Posted by nwestnj

Wow!! Thanks for dropping this message here Боб. Its one of the reason I enjoy learning this new language, just getting insight to another culture and history gives me what I am seeking.

I'm glad you liked it. Then here is another example of related words for you.
"цвет" basically means "color": красный цвет (red color), книга зелёного цвета (a book of green color) (though you can just say "зелёная книга" which means the same), and "цветной" is "colorful": цветные карандаши (pencils of various color);

"цветок" is "a flower": красивый цветок (a nice flower), красный цветок (a red flower).

Note: the plural of "цвет" is "цвета" (яркие цвета - bright colors) while the plural of "цветок" is "цветы" (весенние цветы - spring flowers).

The verb "цвести" means "to blossom": Яблоня цветёт - The apple tree is in blossom (is blossoming).

Now compare: В моём саду цветут цветы разного цвета. - Flowers of different colors blossom in my garden.