The word "infierno" is a noun in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription of "infierno" using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /inˈfjerno/.
"Infierno" refers to a place of torment and punishment in various religious contexts, typically associated with the afterlife. In Christianity, it is often considered a place where sinners are punished after death. The term can also be used metaphorically in both written and oral communication to describe extreme distress or situations perceived as very unpleasant.
In terms of frequency of use, "infierno" appears more in written contexts, especially in literary, religious, or philosophical discussions, but it is also common in spoken language, particularly in casual or expressive situations.
El infierno es descrito como un lugar de sufrimiento eterno en muchas religiones.
Hell is described as a place of eternal suffering in many religions.
No quiero vivir en un infierno.
I don’t want to live in a hell.
Después de la discusión, la casa se sintió como un infierno.
After the argument, the house felt like hell.
The word "infierno" is frequently used in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Here are some examples:
Hacer un infierno de la vida de alguien
To make someone's life a hell
Ella le hizo un infierno de la vida a su exmarido.
She made her ex-husband's life a hell.
Estar en el infierno
To be in hell
Después de perder su trabajo, se sintió como si estuviera en el infierno.
After losing his job, he felt like he was in hell.
Meterse en el infierno
To get into hell
Si sigues así, te vas a meter en un infierno de problemas.
If you keep going like this, you’re going to get into a hell of problems.
El camino al infierno está pavimentado de buenas intenciones
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
A veces, el camino al infierno está pavimentado de buenas intenciones.
Sometimes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The term "infierno" stems from the Latin word "infernum," which means "the lower place" or "hell," derived from "in-" (not) and "ferre" (to carry, to bear). It has retained this connotation throughout its evolution in several Romance languages.
In summary, "infierno" plays a significant role in Spanish as a term representing both a religious concept and a metaphorical one, commonly found in various idiomatic expressions and contexts.