infernal
“infernal” means “unbearable” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
unbearableAlso: hellish, terrible
📝 In Action
Hace un calor infernal hoy.
A2It's unbearably hot today.
Había un ruido infernal en la calle.
B1There was a hellish noise in the street.
El tráfico de la ciudad es simplemente infernal.
B1The city traffic is simply unbearable.
Word Connections
infernal
📝 In Action
Dante describió los círculos infernales.
C1Dante described the infernal circles.
Las criaturas infernales aparecieron en el mito.
C2The infernal creatures appeared in the myth.
Word Connections
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "infernal" in Spanish:
✏️ 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
📚 Etymology
From the Latin 'infernalis', which comes from 'infernus' meaning 'the lower regions' or 'situated below'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.