peklo

Peklo is the Czech and Slovak word for Hell, the realm of the dead and a place of punishment in Christian eschatology. In religious, literary, and folk contexts, peklo is described as a fiery domain inhabited by demons, where souls face torment as punishment for sins. The concept functions both as a doctrinal element in Christian teaching and as a powerful cultural symbol for moral order and ultimate consequence.

Linguistic and semantic notes: Peklo derives from Proto-Slavic roots for the afterlife and punishment; cognate terms exist across West Slavic languages, such as Polish piekło. In Czech and Slovak usage, peklo can also function as a metaphor for extreme heat or difficult conditions, as in expressions that describe a situation as peklo to highlight severity.

In modern culture, peklo appears in literature, cinema, and popular media as a setting or motif representing suffering or moral testing, often drawing on traditional imagery of fire, demons, and judgment. Scholarly discussions typically address peklo within the broader study of eschatology, religious iconography, and Slavic folklore.