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infernal

een-fehr-NALiɱfeɾˈnal

unbearable

Also: hellish, terrible
Adjectivem or fB1
General
A person sweating profusely under a bright, intense sun in a desert landscape.

📝 In Action

Hace un calor infernal hoy.

A2

It's unbearably hot today.

Había un ruido infernal en la calle.

B1

There was a hellish noise in the street.

El tráfico de la ciudad es simplemente infernal.

B1

The city traffic is simply unbearable.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • calor infernal – unbearable heat
  • ruido infernal – hellish noise
  • ritmo infernal – exhausting pace

Idioms & Expressions

  • una máquina infernal – a complicated or dangerous-looking contraption

infernal

Adjectivem or fC1formal
A landscape of glowing red cracks in the ground with smoke and a dark, jagged cave entrance.

📝 In Action

Dante describió los círculos infernales.

C1

Dante described the infernal circles.

Las criaturas infernales aparecieron en el mito.

C2

The infernal creatures appeared in the myth.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • diabólico (diabolical)

Antonyms

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "infernal" in Spanish:

hellish→infernal→terrible→unbearable→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: infernal

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the most common way to use 'infernal' in daily life?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
infierno(hell) — Noun
infernillo(small heater / camping stove) — Noun
endemoniado(possessed / devilish) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'infernalis', which comes from 'infernus' meaning 'the lower regions' or 'situated below'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: infernalItalian: infernale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'infernal' a bad word or a swear word?

No, it's perfectly safe to use in polite company. It's just a strong way to say 'terrible' or 'unbearable'.

Can I use 'infernal' to describe a person?

You can, but it usually describes their behavior or the trouble they cause (like 'un niño infernal' for a very mischievous child) rather than their personality.

How do I pronounce the 'r' in infernal?

It's a single 'r' sound, not the rolling double 'rr'. Just a light tap of the tongue behind your front teeth.