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hell week

(chiefly, US, idiomatic) The week during which new members are required to undergo undignified rites of initiation or gruelling discipline in order to be accepted into a fraternity, sorority, secret s

ˈhɛl ˈwikCurrent158 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(chiefly, US, idiomatic) The week during which new members are required to undergo undignified rites of initiation or gruelling discipline in order to be accepted into a fraternity, sorority, secret society, military group, etc.

See it in action
  • “Halfway through hell week! 2/4 Ordeals have been completed.”

  • “hell week might be over !!!!! 😭😭”

For parents

"hell week" means: The week during which new members are required to undergo undignified rites of initiation or gruelling discipline in order to be accepted in.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"hell week" means: The week during which new members are required to undergo undignified rites of initiation or gruelling discipline in order to be accepted in.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a

Heard in the wild
  • “Halfway through hell week! 2/4 Ordeals have been completed.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “hell week might be over !!!!! 😭😭”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(chiefly, US) In a college or university, the week leading up to final examinations.

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For specific readers

"hell week" means: The week during which new members are required to undergo undignified rites of initiation or gruelling discipline in order to be accepted in.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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