Etymology

From Old Norse helvíti, from Hel, hel ‎(“the goddess of the realm of the dead”) (itself from Proto-Germanic *haljō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- ‎(“to cover, hide, conceal”)) + víti ‎(“punishment”). Compare Norwegian and Swedish helvete, Danish helvede, also Old English hellewīte. Hel is the equivalent of Persephone in Greek mythology.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛl.viːtɪ/