جَهَنَّم
jahannamfeminine
The English word "hell" is translated into Arabic as جَهَنَّم (jahannam). Wiktionary also lists جَحِيم (jaḥīm) and جهنّم (gahannam).
Meaning: abode for the condemned (name)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جَهَنَّم | jahannam | feminine |
| جَحِيم | jaḥīm | masculine |
| جهنّم | gahannam | Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
The term refers to the abode for the condemned. It can be used to name the specific place of punishment in a theological context or to describe an extremely hot place or a place of suffering in one's life.
Which one should you use?
While both words can mean hell, جَهَنَّم is the specific proper name for the place of punishment in Islamic theology. In contrast, جَحِيم often refers more generally to an intense, blazing fire or a place of extreme heat.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Egyptian dialect, the pronunciation of the word often shifts from the standard to جهنّم (gahannam).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form جَهَنَّم is grammatically feminine, while the form جَحِيم is grammatically masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
jahannam
Did you know?
- The word جَهَنَّم is a loanword from the Ancient Greek 'Gehenna', which originally referred to a real valley outside Jerusalem where waste was burned.
- In classical Arabic literature and theology, جَهَنَّم is often personified as a hungry creature that can 'swallow' or 'consume' people.
- In some Arabic idioms, the word جَحِيم is used to describe a 'hellish' level of intensity in politics or war, rather than just spiritual punishment.
Examples in context
- في الإسلام، يعتقد الناس أن الأشرار سيدخلون جهنم بعد الممات.In Islam, people believe that evildoers will enter Jahannam after death.
- تصور الأديان السماوية نار جهنم ككارثة لا تُحتمل.The divine religions depict the fire of Jahannam as an unbearable catastrophe.
- يا له من يوم سيء! كان الجو اليوم حاراً كالجحيم!What a terrible day! The weather today was as hot as hell!
- الناس الأشرار سيذهبون إلى جَهَنَّم.an-nas al-ashrar sayadhhabuna ila jahannam.Bad people will go to hell.
- ذُكِرَتْ جَهَنَّم في القرآن الكريم.dhukirat jahannam fi al-qur'an al-karim.Hell was mentioned in the Holy Quran.
- العدل الإلهي يقيناً سيحاسب أهل جَهَنَّم.al-'adl al-ilahi yaqinan sayuhasib ahla jahannam.Divine justice will certainly hold the people of hell accountable.
Example conversation
Sara and Youssef are discussing a religious text.
- سارة Saraهل قرأت هذا الجزء عن جَهَنَّم؟Hal qara'ta hadha al-juz' 'an jahannam?Did you read this part about hell?
- يوسف Youssefنعم يا سارة، لقد قرأته للتو.Na'am ya Sara, laqad qara'tuhu lil-taw.Yes Sara, I just read it.
- سارة Saraالوصف يبدو مخيفاً للغاية.Al-wasf yabdu mukhifan lil-ghaya.The description seems very scary.
- يوسف Youssefهذا هو الهدف من التحذير.Hadha huwa al-hadaf min al-tahdhir.That is the purpose of the warning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hell” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
