Inklingo

How to Say "hell" in Spanish

English → Spanish

infierno

/in-FYEHR-noh//inˈfjeɾ.no/

NounB1General
Use 'infierno' when referring to the religious concept of hell or a place/situation that is extremely unpleasant or chaotic.
A fiery, deep cavern filled with red and orange lava, featuring tall, jagged black rocks and menacing, shadowy gates, representing the mythological underworld.

Examples

Según muchas religiones, los pecadores van al infierno.

According to many religions, sinners go to hell.

Dante escribió sobre los nueve círculos del Infierno en su Divina Comedia.

Dante wrote about the nine circles of Hell in his Divine Comedy.

El tráfico a esta hora es un infierno.

The traffic at this time is hell.

Vivir con tanto ruido fue un infierno para mí.

Living with so much noise was hell for me.

Always Masculine

'Infierno' is a masculine word, so you always use 'el infierno' (the hell) or 'un infierno' (a hell), never 'la' or 'una'.

diablo

DEE-ah-bloh/ˈdja.βlo/

Interjection / Adverbial PhraseC1Informal
Use 'diablo' as an interjection or adverbial phrase to express strong surprise or frustration, similar to 'what the heck?' or 'what the devil?'.
A dramatic illustration of stylized red and orange flames rising from cracked, dark ground, symbolizing chaos and intense heat.

Examples

¿Qué diablo estás haciendo aquí?

What the heck are you doing here?

¡Vete al diablo!

Go to hell!

No sé cómo diablos lo hizo tan rápido.

I don't know how the devil he did it so quickly.

Question Intensifier

When 'diablo(s)' is placed inside a question (like 'quién,' 'qué,' 'cómo'), it adds emphasis and shows frustration or surprise, much like 'the heck' or 'the hell' in English.

Overusing the Literal Meaning

Mistake: “A literal translation of 'Manda al diablo' to 'He sends the devil' instead of the intended meaning.”

Correction: In context, realize this is an idiom for dismissal: 'He tells them to get lost.'

rayos

/RY-ohs//ˈra.ʝos/

InterjectionB1Informal
Use 'rayos' as a mild interjection to express frustration or surprise, often a less intense alternative to 'diablo' or 'infierno', akin to 'darn it!' or 'what the heck?'.
A simplistic bear cub standing next to a dropped scoop of pink ice cream on the ground, exhibiting a slightly annoyed expression.

Examples

¿Qué rayos estás haciendo?

What the heck are you doing?

¡Rayos! Olvidé mi cartera en casa.

Darn it! I forgot my wallet at home.

No sé dónde rayos está la llave.

I don't know where the heck the key is.

Adding Emphasis

'Rayos' is a versatile word that can be placed after question words (qué, dónde, cómo) to make the question sound more surprised, annoyed, or dramatic.

Register Mix-Up

Mistake: “Using 'rayos' in a formal business meeting or academic essay.”

Correction: This usage is highly informal. Use 'Por favor' or 'Disculpe' for formal expressions of confusion or frustration.

Interjections vs. Literal Meaning

Learners often confuse 'diablo' and 'rayos' with the literal place 'infierno'. Remember that 'diablo' and 'rayos' are primarily used as exclamations of surprise or frustration, not to describe a place or situation, unlike 'infierno'.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.