‘[…] I know whether a boy is telling me the truth or not.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Did he hell. They never bloody did. 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section II, page 24:
- Oh, aren't they sweet? 1990, Mama's Family (television sitcom), "Look Who's Breathing" (season 6, episode 18)
(Australia, New-Zealand, colloquial, not-comparable, sometimes, vulgar) Very; used to emphasize strongly.
From Middle English hel, hell, helle, hælle, from Old English hel, hell, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“hell, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). First attested in c. 725.
Cognates
Cognate with Yola helle (“hell”), Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Alemannic German Hell (“hell”), Cimbrian hélla (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Limburgish hel, Héll, Höll (“hell”), Luxembourgish Häll (“hell”), Vilamovian heł, hełł (“hell”), Danish helvede (“hell”), ihjel (“to death”), Faroese helviti (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“death, hell”), helvíti (“hell”), Norwegian Nynorsk hel (“death, underworld”), helvete (“hell”), Swedish helvete (“hell”), ihjäl (“to death”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (halja, “hell”), Estonian koll (“bugbear”), Finnish koljo (“giant; evil spirit; devil”); also Cornish keles (“to conceal, hide”), Irish ceil (“to conceal, hide; to cover up”), Welsh celu (“to conceal, hide”), Faliscan 𐌂𐌄𐌋𐌀 (cela, “tomb”), Latin cella (“hut, storeroom; barn, granary”), Greek κολεός (koleós, “vagina; sheath; scabbard; coleus”), Lithuanian šalmas (“helmet”), Belarusian шало́м (šalóm, “helmet”), Bulgarian and Macedonian шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Old Polish szłom (“helmet”), Russian шело́м (šelóm), шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Serbo-Croatian шле̏м, шље̏м, šlȅm, šljȅm (“helmet”), Ukrainian шолом (šolom, “helmet”), Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman, “safety, shelter; house; bliss, happiness, joy”).
Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.
Meanings
(colloquial, sometimes, vulgar) Used to express discontent, unhappiness, or anger.
Oh, hell! I got another parking ticket.
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! […] c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:
(colloquial, idiomatic, sometimes, vulgar) Used to emphasize.
Hell yeah!
(colloquial, sometimes, vulgar) Used to introduce an intensified statement following an understated one; nay; not only that, but.
Do it, or, rest assured, there will be no more Middle Eastern crisis – hell, there will be no more Middle East!
From Middle English hel, hell, helle, hælle, from Old English hel, hell, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“hell, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). First attested in c. 725.
Cognates
Cognate with Yola helle (“hell”), Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Alemannic German Hell (“hell”), Cimbrian hélla (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Limburgish hel, Héll, Höll (“hell”), Luxembourgish Häll (“hell”), Vilamovian heł, hełł (“hell”), Danish helvede (“hell”), ihjel (“to death”), Faroese helviti (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“death, hell”), helvíti (“hell”), Norwegian Nynorsk hel (“death, underworld”), helvete (“hell”), Swedish helvete (“hell”), ihjäl (“to death”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (halja, “hell”), Estonian koll (“bugbear”), Finnish koljo (“giant; evil spirit; devil”); also Cornish keles (“to conceal, hide”), Irish ceil (“to conceal, hide; to cover up”), Welsh celu (“to conceal, hide”), Faliscan 𐌂𐌄𐌋𐌀 (cela, “tomb”), Latin cella (“hut, storeroom; barn, granary”), Greek κολεός (koleós, “vagina; sheath; scabbard; coleus”), Lithuanian šalmas (“helmet”), Belarusian шало́м (šalóm, “helmet”), Bulgarian and Macedonian шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Old Polish szłom (“helmet”), Russian шело́м (šelóm), шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Serbo-Croatian шле̏м, шље̏м, šlȅm, šljȅm (“helmet”), Ukrainian шолом (šolom, “helmet”), Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman, “safety, shelter; house; bliss, happiness, joy”).
Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.
Meanings
(countable, excessive, figuratively) A place or situation of great suffering in life.
1879, General William T. Sherman, commencement address at the Michigan Military Academy
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.
Why, am I dying? / Kill, have no fear / Lie, live off lying / Hell, hell is here 1986, “Disposable Heroes”, in Metallica (music), Master of Puppets:
So how do the scientists cope with their work being ignored for decades, and living in a world their findings indicate is on a “highway to hell”?. 2024 May 8, Damian Carrington, “‘Hopeless and broken’: why the world’s top climate scientists are in despair. World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target”, in The Guardian, UK:
I went through hell to get home today.
My new boss is making my job a hell.
callback hell; <table> hell; <div> hell
(countable) A place for gambling.
But there was also about him an indescribable air which no mechanic could have acquired in the practice of his handicraft however dishonestly exercised: […] the air of moral nihilism common to keepers of gambling hells and disorderly houses; […] 1906 January–October, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Collection of British Authors; 3995), copyright edition, London: Bernhard Tauchnitz, published 1907, →OCLC, page 15:
Here’s five-and-twenty for you. Don’t be losing it at the hells now. 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 61, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
a convenient little gambling hell for those who had grown reckless 1877, William Black, Green Pastures and Piccadilly:
There's light behind here—a hole through the wall. I believe the place is a regular swindling hell. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) An extremely hot place.
when hell freezes over
You don’t have a snowball's chance in hell.
(countable, mildly, uncountable, vulgar) Used as an intensifier in phrases grammatically requiring a noun.
I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.
He says he’s going home early? Like hell he is.
What the hell is wrong with you?!
She's got her arms down to her side, defiant. But just for the hell of it, she leans into him, wraps her arms around his neck, puts her head on his shoulder, and hangs on tight. 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 321:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A place into which a tailor throws shreds, or a printer discards broken type.
This sturdy Squire, he had, as well
As the bold Trojan Knight, seen Hell. 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) In certain games of chase, a place to which those who are caught are carried for detention.
mn ᠲᠠᠮᠤ (place of suffering in life) · tr tamu (place of suffering in life) · hi यमलोक (place of suffering in life) · de Hölle (place of suffering in life) · ms jahanam (place of suffering in life) · ja 地獄 (place of suffering in life) · be пе́кла (place of suffering in life) · ia inferno (place of suffering in life) · pt inferno (place of suffering in life) · sjd а̄дт (place of suffering in life) · my နရက် (place of suffering in life) · fr enfer (place of suffering in life) · ur دوزَخ (place of suffering in life) · fi helvetti (place of suffering in life) · is helvíti (place of suffering in life) · el κόλαση (place of suffering in life) · sh ад (place of suffering in life) · ms neraka (place of suffering in life) · pl piekło (place of suffering in life) · cv тамӑк (place of suffering in life) · id neraka (place of suffering in life) · sh џехѐнем (place of suffering in life) · lo ນະຣົກ (place of suffering in life) · kk жаһаннам (place of suffering in life) · id jahanam (place of suffering in life) · aot norok (place of suffering in life) · ug جەھەننەم (place of suffering in life) · pt inferno (extremely hot place) · tt җәһәннәм (place of suffering in life) · eo infero (place of suffering in life) · fa دوزَخ (place of suffering in life) · km និរៃ (place of suffering in life) · tg дӯзах (place of suffering in life) · fy Hel (place of suffering in life) · uk пе́кло (place of suffering in life) · mk пекол (place of suffering in life) · ka ჯოჯოხეთი (place of suffering in life) · uz doʻzax (place of suffering in life) · uk ад (place of suffering in life) · km ឋាននរក (place of suffering in life) · zh 地獄 /地狱 (place of suffering in life) · stq Hälle (place of suffering in life) · ota جهنم (place of suffering in life) · ur جَہَنَّم (place of suffering in life) · te నరకం (place of suffering in life) · ast infiernu (place of suffering in life) · lv elle (place of suffering in life) · th นรก (place of suffering in life) · ru ад (place of suffering in life) · sh pàkao (place of suffering in life) · ky жаанам (place of suffering in life) · nb helvete (place of suffering in life) · hi जहन्नम (place of suffering in life) · tk dowzah (place of suffering in life) · hi नरक (place of suffering in life) · fi pätsi (extremely hot place) · cu ⱂⱐⰽⱏⰾⱏ (place of suffering in life) · sq skëterrë (place of suffering in life) · bg пъ́къл (place of suffering in life) · he גֵּיהִנּוֹם (place of suffering in life) · sl pekel (place of suffering in life) · lo ນະລົກ (place of suffering in life) · ru пе́кло (extremely hot place) · ur نَرَک (place of suffering in life) · as নৰক (place of suffering in life) · hak 地獄 /地狱 (place of suffering in life) · sw jahanamu (place of suffering in life) · se helvet (place of suffering in life) · it inferno (place of suffering in life) · om jaannama (place of suffering in life) · kk тамұқ (place of suffering in life) · tg ҷаҳаннам (place of suffering in life) · sv helvete (place of suffering in life) · sk peklo (place of suffering in life) · sh ad (place of suffering in life) · cs peklo (place of suffering in life) · lt pragaras (place of suffering in life) · fa جَهَنَّم (place of suffering in life) · gd Ifrinn (place of suffering in life) · cu пькълъ (place of suffering in life) · bn জাহান্নাম (place of suffering in life) · hy դժոխք (place of suffering in life) · yi גיהנום (place of suffering in life) · alt јер алды (place of suffering in life) · yi גענעם (place of suffering in life) · nl hel (place of suffering in life) · bg ад (place of suffering in life) · sh па̀као (place of suffering in life) · kk тозақ (place of suffering in life) · zh 地獄 /地狱 (place of suffering in life) · az cəhənnəm (place of suffering in life) · ba йәһәннәм (place of suffering in life) · km នរកកុណ្ឌ (place of suffering in life) · alt тамы (place of suffering in life) · vo höl (place of suffering in life) · ar جَحِيم (extremely hot place) · ko 지옥 (place of suffering in life) · ug دوزاخ (place of suffering in life) · nn helvete (place of suffering in life) · mk џенем (place of suffering in life) · da helvede (place of suffering in life) · et põrgu (place of suffering in life) · mn там (place of suffering in life) · sh džehènem (place of suffering in life) · ar جَهَنَّم (place of suffering in life) · ota طامو (place of suffering in life) · yue 地獄 /地狱 (place of suffering in life) · ar جَحِيم (place of suffering in life) · bg дженде́м (place of suffering in life) · tk jähennem (place of suffering in life) · uz jahannam (place of suffering in life) · km នរក (place of suffering in life) · sw motoni (place of suffering in life) · az ҹәһәннәм (place of suffering in life) · ang hell (place of suffering in life) · be ад (place of suffering in life) · hu pokol (place of suffering in life) · my ငရဲ (place of suffering in life) · ky тозок (place of suffering in life) · ba тамуҡ (place of suffering in life) · es infierno (place of suffering in life) · scn nfernu (place of suffering in life) · bn নরক (place of suffering in life) · tr cehennem (place of suffering in life) · ga ifreann (place of suffering in life) · ky жаханнам (place of suffering in life)
From Middle English hel, hell, helle, hælle, from Old English hel, hell, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“hell, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). First attested in c. 725.
Cognates
Cognate with Yola helle (“hell”), Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Alemannic German Hell (“hell”), Cimbrian hélla (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Limburgish hel, Héll, Höll (“hell”), Luxembourgish Häll (“hell”), Vilamovian heł, hełł (“hell”), Danish helvede (“hell”), ihjel (“to death”), Faroese helviti (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“death, hell”), helvíti (“hell”), Norwegian Nynorsk hel (“death, underworld”), helvete (“hell”), Swedish helvete (“hell”), ihjäl (“to death”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (halja, “hell”), Estonian koll (“bugbear”), Finnish koljo (“giant; evil spirit; devil”); also Cornish keles (“to conceal, hide”), Irish ceil (“to conceal, hide; to cover up”), Welsh celu (“to conceal, hide”), Faliscan 𐌂𐌄𐌋𐌀 (cela, “tomb”), Latin cella (“hut, storeroom; barn, granary”), Greek κολεός (koleós, “vagina; sheath; scabbard; coleus”), Lithuanian šalmas (“helmet”), Belarusian шало́м (šalóm, “helmet”), Bulgarian and Macedonian шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Old Polish szłom (“helmet”), Russian шело́м (šelóm), шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Serbo-Croatian шле̏м, шље̏м, šlȅm, šljȅm (“helmet”), Ukrainian шолом (šolom, “helmet”), Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman, “safety, shelter; house; bliss, happiness, joy”).
Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.
Meanings
(capitalized, in many religions, often) A place of torment where some or all sinners are believed to go after death and evil spirits are believed to be.
May you rot in hell!
Hell is a strait and dark and foul-smelling prison, an abode of demons and lost souls, filled with fire and smoke. 1916, James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man:
'Cause this is a wasteland, my only retreat / With heaven above you, there's hell over me 2012, “Hell Above”, in Collide with the Sky, performed by Pierce the Veil:
Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, / Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman ſcorn'd. 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act III, page 39:
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 23:14:
ar جهنّم (abode for the condemned) · alt јер алды (abode for the condemned) · fo helviti (abode for the condemned) · orv адъ (abode for the condemned) · fr enfer (abode for the condemned) · hi नरक (abode for the condemned) · izh vaadu (abode for the condemned) · gd ifrinn (abode for the condemned) · sw kuzimu (abode for the condemned) · tg дӯзах (abode for the condemned) · da helvede (abode for the condemned) · mn там (abode for the condemned) · kl anniarfik (abode for the condemned) · ky жаханнам (abode for the condemned) · arc ܓܝܗܢܐ (abode for the condemned) · nl hel (abode for the condemned) · be пе́кла (abode for the condemned) · sux 𒆳 (abode for the condemned) · bn নরক (abode for the condemned) · tk dowzah (abode for the condemned) · az cəhənnəm (abode for the condemned) · ab џьаҳаным (abode for the condemned) · gug añaretã (abode for the condemned) · ca infern (abode for the condemned) · new नर्क (abode for the condemned) · ja 地獄 (abode for the condemned) · dlm infiarn (abode for the condemned) · uk геє́на вогне́нна (abode for the condemned) · bg ад (abode for the condemned) · bn জাহান্নাম (abode for the condemned) · hi जहन्नम (abode for the condemned) · vi địa ngục (abode for the condemned) · yue 地獄 /地狱 (abode for the condemned) · eo infero (abode for the condemned) · sq ferr (abode for the condemned) · ae 𐬛𐬀𐬊𐬲𐬀𐬢𐬵 (abode for the condemned) · orv пекло (abode for the condemned) · uk ад (abode for the condemned) · rm enfiern (abode for the condemned) · ro iad (abode for the condemned) · udm ад (abode for the condemned) · fa جَهَنَّم (abode for the condemned) · ps دوږخ (abode for the condemned) · uz doʻzax (abode for the condemned) · mn ᠲᠠᠮᠤ (abode for the condemned) · mt infern (abode for the condemned) · sh džehènem (abode for the condemned) · cu ⰳⰵⱁⱀⰰ (abode for the condemned) · pa ਨਰਕ (abode for the condemned) · si නිරය (abode for the condemned) · hit 𒋼𒂊𒈾𒌋𒉿𒀸 (abode for the condemned) · zza cahnım (diq) (abode for the condemned) · lt pragaras (abode for the condemned) · kmr dûjeh (abode for the condemned) · ja 魔界 (abode for the condemned) · udi джаьгьаьннаьм (abode for the condemned) · ml നരകം (abode for the condemned) · de Brand (abode for the condemned) · dsb pjakło (abode for the condemned) · cs peklo (abode for the condemned) · nv chʼį́įdiitah (abode for the condemned) · fa دوزَخ (abode for the condemned) · alt тамы (abode for the condemned) · el Κόλαση (abode for the condemned) · tr tamu (abode for the condemned) · nb helvete (abode for the condemned) · xag 𐔲𐔴𐕆𐔴𐕎𐔰 (abode for the condemned) · fy hel (abode for the condemned) · ms neraka (abode for the condemned) · dv ނަރަކަ (abode for the condemned) · sh па̀као (abode for the condemned) · fi helvetti (abode for the condemned) · es infierno (abode for the condemned) · be ад (abode for the condemned) · az ҹәһәннәм (abode for the condemned) · swb moro (abode for the condemned) · cu адъ (abode for the condemned) · lad inferno (abode for the condemned) · yi גיהנום (abode for the condemned) · my ငရဲ (abode for the condemned) · km នរកកុណ្ឌ (abode for the condemned) · pt inferno (abode for the condemned) · cu ⰰⰴⱏ (abode for the condemned) · hsb hela (abode for the condemned) · oc infèrn (abode for the condemned) · mdh naraka (abode for the condemned) · my နရက် (abode for the condemned) · stq Hälle (abode for the condemned) · sq skëterrë (abode for the condemned) · zh 地獄 /地狱 (abode for the condemned) · de Fegefeuer (abode for the condemned) · ur جَہَنَّم (abode for the condemned) · ckb دۆژە (abode for the condemned) · gu જહન્નમ (abode for the condemned) · as নৰক (abode for the condemned) · pa ਜਹੰਨਮ (abode for the condemned) · ms jahanam (abode for the condemned) · th อบาย (abode for the condemned) · bo དམྱལ་བ (abode for the condemned) · ba тамуҡ (abode for the condemned) · zh 地獄 /地狱 (abode for the condemned) · pal 𐭣𐭥𐭱𐭧𐭥𐭩 (abode for the condemned) · id neraka (abode for the condemned) · sv helvete (abode for the condemned) · ta ஜஹன்னம் (abode for the condemned) · kn ನರಕ (abode for the condemned) · rcf lanfèr (abode for the condemned) · gu નરક (abode for the condemned) · ae 𐬛𐬀𐬊𐬲𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀 (abode for the condemned) · ota جهنم (abode for the condemned) · ga ifreann (abode for the condemned) · tpw anhanga ratá (abode for the condemned) · ru преиспо́дняя (abode for the condemned) · hy դժոխք (abode for the condemned) · sce dozohei (abode for the condemned) · kmr cehnem (abode for the condemned) · cu г҄еона (abode for the condemned) · osx hel (abode for the condemned) · crh ceennem (abode for the condemned) · ta நரகம் (abode for the condemned) · hi यमलोक (abode for the condemned) · it inferno (abode for the condemned) · izh helvetti (abode for the condemned) · kk тамұқ (abode for the condemned) · ps دوژخ (abode for the condemned) · bal دوزه (abode for the condemned) · eu infernu (abode for the condemned) · ba йәһәннәм (abode for the condemned) · nn helvete (abode for the condemned) · av жужахӏ (abode for the condemned) · lb Häll (abode for the condemned) · ru ад (abode for the condemned) · uz jahannam (abode for the condemned) · lo ນະລົກ (abode for the condemned) · ar جَحِيم (abode for the condemned) · crh cehennem (abode for the condemned) · grc γέεννα (abode for the condemned) · ru пе́кло (abode for the condemned) · ltg eļne (abode for the condemned) · ru гее́нна о́гненная (abode for the condemned) · ko 마계 (abode for the condemned) · la Tartarus (abode for the condemned) · ko 지옥 (abode for the condemned) · id jahanam (abode for the condemned) · ckb دۆزەخ (abode for the condemned) · lv elle (abode for the condemned) · tpw Anhanga retama (abode for the condemned) · ia inferno (abode for the condemned) · el κόλαση (abode for the condemned) · bg дженде́м (abode for the condemned) · ps جوغاش (abode for the condemned) · pro enfern (abode for the condemned) · lad geinam (abode for the condemned) · scn nfernu (abode for the condemned) · de Hölle (abode for the condemned) · haw kehena (abode for the condemned) · ckb جەھەنەم (abode for the condemned) · te నరకం (abode for the condemned) · sc iferru (abode for the condemned) · br ifern (abode for the condemned) · he גֵּיהִנּוֹם (abode for the condemned) · pdt Hal (abode for the condemned) · kk тозақ (abode for the condemned) · non helviti (abode for the condemned) · ro infern (abode for the condemned) · ar جَهَنَّم (abode for the condemned) · la gehenna (abode for the condemned) · ce жоьжахати (abode for the condemned) · ne नरक (abode for the condemned) · tr cehennem (abode for the condemned) · et põrgu (abode for the condemned) · is helvíti (abode for the condemned) · vo höl (abode for the condemned) · gag cendem (abode for the condemned) · zza doze (abode for the condemned) · ang hell (abode for the condemned) · nrf enfé (abode for the condemned) · ug جەھەننەم (abode for the condemned) · ky жаанам (abode for the condemned) · bg пъ́къл (abode for the condemned) · ka ჯოჯოხეთი (abode for the condemned) · mk пекол (abode for the condemned) · alt таамы (abode for the condemned) · ps دوزخ (abode for the condemned) · mnc ᡳᠯᠮᡠᠨ (abode for the condemned) · ja 奈落 (abode for the condemned) · sh pàkao (abode for the condemned) · ky тозок (abode for the condemned) · ro gheenă (abode for the condemned) · sga ifernn (abode for the condemned) · ur نَرَک (abode for the condemned) · mk џенем (abode for the condemned) · wlc moro (abode for the condemned) · lo ນະຣົກ (abode for the condemned) · mr नर्क (abode for the condemned) · sh ad (abode for the condemned) · sh ад (abode for the condemned) · mrw narka' (abode for the condemned) · inh жожагӏате (abode for the condemned) · tl impiyerno (abode for the condemned) · la infernum (abode for the condemned) · ug دوزاخ (abode for the condemned) · sw jahanamu (abode for the condemned) · enm helle (abode for the condemned) · io inferno (abode for the condemned) · sk peklo (abode for the condemned) · hu pokol (abode for the condemned) · sh џехѐнем (abode for the condemned) · sah үөдэн (abode for the condemned) · lv pekle (abode for the condemned) · kaa jáhánnem (abode for the condemned) · af hel (abode for the condemned) · km នរក (abode for the condemned) · hak 地獄 /地狱 (abode for the condemned) · yo ọ̀run àpáàdì (abode for the condemned) · ig ọkụ mmụọ (abode for the condemned) · kk жаһаннам (abode for the condemned) · tg ҷаҳаннам (abode for the condemned) · ps جاندم (abode for the condemned) · gl inferno (abode for the condemned) · mfe lanfer (abode for the condemned) · izh aada (abode for the condemned) · fur infiêr (abode for the condemned) · se helvet (abode for the condemned) · yi גענעם (abode for the condemned) · ast infiernu (abode for the condemned) · pl piekło (abode for the condemned) · clt athiykhy (abode for the condemned) · ota طامو (abode for the condemned) · iu ᐃᑯᒪᐊᓗᒃ (abode for the condemned) · nds Helle (abode for the condemned) · km និរៃ (abode for the condemned) · ko 나락 (abode for the condemned) · el γέεννα (abode for the condemned) · xal там (abode for the condemned) · fi horna (abode for the condemned) · be гее́на во́гненная (abode for the condemned) · mww ntuj raug txim (abode for the condemned) · chr ᏨᏍᎩᏃ (abode for the condemned) · srn didibrikondre (abode for the condemned) · txb nrai (abode for the condemned) · th นรก (abode for the condemned) · sl pekel (abode for the condemned) · ti ገሃነም (abode for the condemned) · uk пе́кло (abode for the condemned) · tt җәһәннәм (abode for the condemned) · ml ജഹന്നം (abode for the condemned) · sa नरक (abode for the condemned) · tab жегьеннем (abode for the condemned) · ps اورګړ (abode for the condemned) · pi naraka (abode for the condemned) · or ନର୍କ (abode for the condemned) · tk jähennem (abode for the condemned) · am ገሀነም (abode for the condemned) · km ឋាននរក (abode for the condemned) · dsb hela (abode for the condemned) · bua тама (abode for the condemned) · udm тамуг (abode for the condemned) · cv тамӑк (abode for the condemned) · ur دوزَخ (abode for the condemned) · cy uffern (abode for the condemned)
From Middle English hel, hell, helle, hælle, from Old English hel, hell, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“hell, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). First attested in c. 725.
Cognates
Cognate with Yola helle (“hell”), Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Alemannic German Hell (“hell”), Cimbrian hélla (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Limburgish hel, Héll, Höll (“hell”), Luxembourgish Häll (“hell”), Vilamovian heł, hełł (“hell”), Danish helvede (“hell”), ihjel (“to death”), Faroese helviti (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“death, hell”), helvíti (“hell”), Norwegian Nynorsk hel (“death, underworld”), helvete (“hell”), Swedish helvete (“hell”), ihjäl (“to death”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰 (halja, “hell”), Estonian koll (“bugbear”), Finnish koljo (“giant; evil spirit; devil”); also Cornish keles (“to conceal, hide”), Irish ceil (“to conceal, hide; to cover up”), Welsh celu (“to conceal, hide”), Faliscan 𐌂𐌄𐌋𐌀 (cela, “tomb”), Latin cella (“hut, storeroom; barn, granary”), Greek κολεός (koleós, “vagina; sheath; scabbard; coleus”), Lithuanian šalmas (“helmet”), Belarusian шало́м (šalóm, “helmet”), Bulgarian and Macedonian шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Old Polish szłom (“helmet”), Russian шело́м (šelóm), шлем (šlem, “helmet”), Serbo-Croatian шле̏м, шље̏м, šlȅm, šljȅm (“helmet”), Ukrainian шолом (šolom, “helmet”), Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman, “safety, shelter; house; bliss, happiness, joy”).
Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.
Meanings
(colloquial, sometimes, vulgar) To make hellish; to place (someone) in hell; to make (a place) into a hell.
(colloquial, sometimes, vulgar) To hurry, rush.
I had already lost thirteen points, all because she had to come helling in there at twelve, worrying me about that letter. 1929, William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury:
(colloquial, intransitive, sometimes, vulgar) To move quickly and loudly; to raise hell as part of motion.
He was helling down the road with his radio blaring.
From German hellen (“to brighten, burnish”). Related to Dutch hel (“clear, bright”) and German hell (“clear, bright”).
Meanings
(colloquial, qualifier:metal-working, rare, sometimes, vulgar) To add luster to; to burnish (silver or gold).
To hell gold or gilt workː take two ounces of tartar, two ounces of sulfur.. and it will give it a fine luster. 1770, Godfrey Smith, The Laboratory: Or, School of Arts:
From Middle English hellen, from Old Norse hella (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *halþijaną (“to incline, tip; to pour out, empty”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to lean, incline”). Cognate with Icelandic hella (“to pour”), Norwegian helle (“to pour”), Swedish hälla (“to pour”). See also English hield.
Meanings
(colloquial, rare, sometimes, vulgar) To pour.
18th century, Josiah Relph, The Harvest; or Bashful Shepherd
Gosh, the sickle went into me handː Down hell'd the bluid.