Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ад | ad | [at] (narrow) | masculine |
| преиспо́дняя | preispódnjaja | feminine | |
| пе́кло | péklo | neuter | |
| гее́нна о́гненная | gejénna ógnennaja | feminine |
Russian has several ways to refer to hell depending on the context. While ад is the standard term for the abode of the condemned, you might use преиспо́дняя in a literary sense to mean the underworld or гее́нна о́гненная for a specific theological reference to Gehenna. In a metaphorical sense, пе́кло can describe an intensely hot place or a state of extreme heat and chaos. Additionally, the related word чёрт is used as an informal interjection to express frustration, similar to saying 'hell!' or 'damn!' in English.
Which one should you use?
ад is the standard, neutral term used for both religious and metaphorical contexts. преиспо́дняя is a more formal or literary term often found in poetry or classical texts to describe the underworld. пе́кло is used metaphorically to describe an intensely hot place or extreme heat. гее́нна о́гненная is a specific biblical or theological term for hellfire. Finally, while ад refers to the place itself, the word чёрт functions as an interjection to express annoyance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun ад changes to аду when used in the dative case, such as in the prepositional phrase в аду (in hell).
How do you pronounce it?
ad
Did you know?
- The Russian word ад is a direct loan from the Ancient Greek word ᾍδης, which originally referred to the underworld rather than a place of eternal punishment.
- The word преисподняя literally means 'the lowest place', reflecting a cultural view of hell as the deepest possible point of the earth.
- The theological term геенна огненная refers specifically to the valley of Gehenna outside Jerusalem, which was a historical place where waste was burned.
Examples in context
- Война – это ад.War is hell.This sentence uses ад to show the intensity of war.Tatoeba #2480406 by marafon, translation #2195466 by Hybrid
- На что похож ад?What is hell like?This sentence uses ад to ask about the nature of hell.Tatoeba #6670468 by odexed, translation #1624855 by marcelostockle
- До встречи в аду!See you in hell!This sentence uses ад to express a hostile parting remark.Tatoeba #4839965 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #1125521 by Scott
- Жара в Москве достигла адских масштабов.The heat in Moscow reached hellish proportions.
- В этой работе столько стресса, что это просто пекло!There is so much stress in this job, it's just hell!
- 98 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a very difficult and stressful movie.
- Мария MariaЭтот фильм настоящий ад.Etot fil'm nastoyashchiy ad.This movie is a real hell.
- Андрей AndreyСогласен, он очень тяжелый.Soglasen, on ochen' tyazhelyy.I agree, it is very heavy.
- Мария MariaЯ не хочу его пересматривать.Ya ne khochu ego peresmatrivat'.I don't want to watch it again.
- Андрей AndreyЯ тебя понимаю, Мария.Ya tebya ponimayu, Mariya.I understand you, Maria.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hell” translations and entries ад, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ад, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
