inferno

See also: Inferno

English

Etymology

From Italian inferno (“hell”), from Latin infernus (“of the lower regions”), inferna (“the lower regions”); see infernal.

The meaning "big fire" came as a figurative use from the traditional idea of hellfire.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈfɝnoʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)nəʊ

Noun

inferno (plural infernos)

1. A place or situation resembling Hell.
   • 1899, D. C. Worcester, The Philippine Islands and Their People:

     At each sudden explosion in the inferno below they sprang back from the brink [of the volcanic crater].

   • 1905 April–October, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 26 February 1906, →OCLC:

     When Jurgis had first inspected the packing plants with Szedvilas, he […] found that each one of these lesser industries was a separate little inferno, in its way as horrible as the killing beds, the source and fountain of them all[, and t]he workers in each of them had their own peculiar diseases.

2. A large fire; a conflagration.

   The inferno ripped through the forest, destroying anything in its path.

   • 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion‎^[1]:

     Blast after blast, fiery outbreak after fiery outbreak, like a flaming barrage from within, […] most of Edison's grounds soon became an inferno. As though on an incendiary rampage, the fires systematically devoured the contents of Edison's headquarters and facilities.

   • 2021 May 5, Drachinifel, 34:59 from the start, in Battle of Samar - What if TF34 was there?‎^[2], archived from the original on 8 August 2022:

     Unfortunately for Admiral Kurita, this is where the good news ends. The fire started by New Jersey's hit amidships has spread, and there is now a towering inferno that occupies the middle third of the Japanese battleship.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:afterlife

Derived terms

• towering inferno

Related terms

• infernal

Translations

place or situation resembling Hell

• Arabic: جَحِيم (jaḥīm), جَهَنَّم m (jahannam)
• Bashkir: тамуҡ (tamuq), йәһәннәм (yähännäm)
• Bulgarian: ад (bg) m (ad), пъкъл (bg) m (păkăl)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 地獄 / 地狱 (zh) (dìyù)

• Danish: inferno n
• Finnish: pätsi (fi) (extremely hot place); helvetti (fi), horna (fi), inferno (fi) (generally); tulihelvetti (heavy bombardment)
• French: enfer (fr) m
• German: Hölle (de) f, Inferno (de) n
• Greek: κόλαση (el) f (kólasi)
• Hebrew: תֹּפֶת (he) f (tófet)
• Italian: inferno (it) m
• Japanese: 地獄 (ja) (じごく, jigoku)
• Korean: 지옥(地獄) (ko) (jiok)
• Portuguese: inferno (pt) m
• Russian: ад (ru) m (ad), пе́кло (ru) n (péklo)
• Spanish: infierno (es) m
• Swedish: inferno (sv) n
• Vietnamese: địa ngục (vi) (地獄)

large fire

• Arabic: جَحِيم f (jaḥīm), سَعِير (saʕīr)
• Catalan: infern (ca) m, foc gran m
• Danish: inferno n
• Dutch: vuurzee (nl) f, inferno (nl) n
• Finnish: pätsi (fi), liekkimeri (fi), horna (fi)
• French: incendie (fr) m, brasier (fr) m
• Hebrew: תֹּפֶת (he) f (tófet)
• Italian: inferno (it) m, inferno di fiamme m, fuogo grande m
• Japanese: 業火 (ja) (gōka), 猛火 (ja) (mōka)
• Latin: incendium (la), ignis grandis m
• Māori: toronga, ahi nui whakaharahara
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: inferno n

  Nynorsk: inferno n

• Portuguese: inferno (pt) m, fogo grande m
• Spanish: infierno (es) m, fuego grande m

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• German: ^{(please verify)} Inferno (de) n

Further reading

• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “inferno”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “inferno”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Fronnie, nonfire

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian inferno, from Latin infernus (“of the lower regions”).

Noun

inferno n (singular definite infernoet, plural indefinite infernoer)

1. inferno; a horrible or agonizing place; hell
2. (figurative) chaos (e.g. sounds, feelings etc.)

Declension

Declension of inferno

neuter gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	inferno	infernoet	infernoer	infernoerne
genitive	infernos	infernoets	infernoers	infernoernes

Related terms

• infernalsk

References

• “inferno” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

From Italian inferno (“hell”), from Latin infernus (“of the lower regions”), inferna (“the lower regions”); see infernal. The meaning "big fire" came as a figurative use from the traditional idea of hellfire.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

inferno n (plural inferno's, diminutive infernootje n)

1. hell-like place or situation
2. hellfire
3. a large fire

Synonyms

• (a hell-like place): onderwereld
• (hellfire): hellevuur
• (a large fire): vuurzee, vlammenzee

Related terms

• infernaal

Finnish

Etymology

From Italian inferno.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈinferno/, [ˈiɱfe̞rno̞]
• Rhymes: -inferno
• Syllabification^(key): in‧fer‧no
• Hyphenation^(key): in‧fer‧no

Noun

inferno

1. inferno (place resembling hell, large fire)

Declension

Inflection of inferno (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		inferno	infernot
genitive		infernon	infernojen infernoiden infernoitten
partitive		infernoa	infernoja infernoita
illative		infernoon	infernoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		inferno	infernot
accusative	nom.	inferno	infernot
	gen.	infernon
genitive		infernon	infernojen infernoiden infernoitten
partitive		infernoa	infernoja infernoita
inessive		infernossa	infernoissa
elative		infernosta	infernoista
illative		infernoon	infernoihin
adessive		infernolla	infernoilla
ablative		infernolta	infernoilta
allative		infernolle	infernoille
essive		infernona	infernoina
translative		infernoksi	infernoiksi
abessive		infernotta	infernoitta
instructive		—	infernoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of inferno (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative infernoni infernoni accusative nom. infernoni infernoni gen. infernoni genitive infernoni infernojeni infernoideni infernoitteni partitive infernoani infernojani infernoitani inessive infernossani infernoissani elative infernostani infernoistani illative infernooni infernoihini adessive infernollani infernoillani ablative infernoltani infernoiltani allative infernolleni infernoilleni essive infernonani infernoinani translative infernokseni infernoikseni abessive infernottani infernoittani instructive — — comitative — infernoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative infernosi infernosi accusative nom. infernosi infernosi gen. infernosi genitive infernosi infernojesi infernoidesi infernoittesi partitive infernoasi infernojasi infernoitasi inessive infernossasi infernoissasi elative infernostasi infernoistasi illative infernoosi infernoihisi adessive infernollasi infernoillasi ablative infernoltasi infernoiltasi allative infernollesi infernoillesi essive infernonasi infernoinasi translative infernoksesi infernoiksesi abessive infernottasi infernoittasi instructive — — comitative — infernoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative infernomme infernomme accusative nom. infernomme infernomme gen. infernomme genitive infernomme infernojemme infernoidemme infernoittemme partitive infernoamme infernojamme infernoitamme inessive infernossamme infernoissamme elative infernostamme infernoistamme illative infernoomme infernoihimme adessive infernollamme infernoillamme ablative infernoltamme infernoiltamme allative infernollemme infernoillemme essive infernonamme infernoinamme translative infernoksemme infernoiksemme abessive infernottamme infernoittamme instructive — — comitative — infernoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative infernonne infernonne accusative nom. infernonne infernonne gen. infernonne genitive infernonne infernojenne infernoidenne infernoittenne partitive infernoanne infernojanne infernoitanne inessive infernossanne infernoissanne elative infernostanne infernoistanne illative infernoonne infernoihinne adessive infernollanne infernoillanne ablative infernoltanne infernoiltanne allative infernollenne infernoillenne essive infernonanne infernoinanne translative infernoksenne infernoiksenne abessive infernottanne infernoittanne instructive — — comitative — infernoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative infernonsa infernonsa accusative nom. infernonsa infernonsa gen. infernonsa genitive infernonsa infernojensa infernoidensa infernoittensa partitive infernoaan infernoansa infernojaan infernoitaan infernojansa infernoitansa inessive infernossaan infernossansa infernoissaan infernoissansa elative infernostaan infernostansa infernoistaan infernoistansa illative infernoonsa infernoihinsa adessive infernollaan infernollansa infernoillaan infernoillansa ablative infernoltaan infernoltansa infernoiltaan infernoiltansa allative infernolleen infernollensa infernoilleen infernoillensa essive infernonaan infernonansa infernoinaan infernoinansa translative infernokseen infernoksensa infernoikseen infernoiksensa abessive infernottaan infernottansa infernoittaan infernoittansa instructive — — comitative — infernoineen infernoinensa

Galician

A 15th-century depiction. Santa María de Labrada, Galicia.

Etymology

Etymology tree

Latin īnfernus

Old Galician-Portuguese inferno

Galician inferno

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese inferno, from Latin īnfernus (“infernal; of the lower regions”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iɱˈfɛɾno̝/

Noun

inferno m (plural infernos)

1. (Christianity) hell
2. (figurative) a very unpleasable or negative situation

Derived terms

• infernal
• inferniño

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “inferno”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Santamarina, editor (2006–2013), “inferno”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Santamarina, Ernesto X. González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “inferno”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “inferno”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /inˈfɛr.no/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛrno
• Hyphenation: in‧fèr‧no

Etymology 1

From Latin īnfernus (“of the lower regions”), derived from īnferus (“low”).

Adjective

inferno (feminine inferna, masculine plural inferni, feminine plural inferne)

1. hellish, infernal
2. (uncommon) lower, inferior

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Late Latin īnfernus, īnfernum (“the depths of the earth”), noun use of īnfernus (“of the lower regions”), derived from īnferus (“low”).

Noun

inferno m (plural inferni)

1. hell
2. inferno

Related terms

• infernale

Descendants

• → Dutch: inferno
• → English: inferno
• → German: Inferno
• → Italiot Greek: ινφιέρνο (infiérno)
• → Norwegian: inferno
• → Swedish: inferno
• → Danish: inferno

Etymology 3

From the toponym Inferno (a place near Sondrio).

Noun

inferno m (plural inferni)

1. a kind of red wine

Further reading

• “inferno¹”, in Vocabolario Treccani on line (in Italian), Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2026
• “inferno²”, in Vocabolario Treccani on line (in Italian), Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2026
• “inferno³”, in Vocabolario Treccani on line (in Italian), Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2026

Anagrams

• frenino, nefroni

Latin

Adjective

īnfernō

1. dative/ablative masculine/neuter singular of īnfernus

Noun

īnfernō m

1. dative/ablative singular of īnfernus

Lombard

Noun

inferno m

1. (Old Lombard) alternative form of inverno (etymology 2)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Italian inferno, from Latin infernus.

Noun

inferno n (definite singular infernoet, indefinite plural inferno or infernoer, definite plural infernoa or infernoene)

1. an inferno

References

• “inferno” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “inferno” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Italian inferno, from Latin infernus.

Noun

inferno n (definite singular infernoet, indefinite plural inferno, definite plural infernoa)

1. an inferno

References

• “inferno” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese inferno, iferno, from Latin īnfernus (“infernal; of the lower regions”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛʁ.nu/ [ĩˈfɛɦ.nu]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛʁ.nu/ [ĩˈfɛɦ.nu]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛɾ.nu/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛʁ.nu/
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛɻ.nu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ĩˈfɛɾ.nu/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛɾnu
• Hyphenation: in‧fer‧no

Noun

inferno m (plural infernos)

1. (Christianity) hell (where sinners go)
2. (figurative) a very unpleasant or negative situation
3. (figurative) a very hot place

Interjection

inferno!

1. hell (expressing discontent, unhappiness, or anger)

Related terms

• infernal
• inferninho

Further reading

• “inferno”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Swedish

Noun

inferno n

1. an inferno; an extremely dangerous, chaotic and generally overwhelming situation

Usage notes

• Swedes would associate inferno with Dante but also with August Strindberg

Declension

Declension of inferno

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	inferno	infernos
	definite	infernot	infernots
plural	indefinite	infernon	infernons
	definite	infernona	infernonas

Related terms

• infernalisk

References

• “inferno”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “inferno”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “inferno”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)