German word

Knast

Pronunciation

IPA/knast/

Meaning

  • masculine nounjail

Example

Er sitzt schon seit einem Jahr im Knast.

He's been in jail for a year now.

Illustration for Knast (jail)

More examples

Nach dem Prozess kam er in den Knast.

After the trial, he went to jail.

Core concept

A confined place from which a prisoner cannot freely leave.

Common phrases

  • im Knast sitzen

    sit in jail

  • in den Knast kommen

    go to jail

  • aus dem Knast entlassen werden

    be released from jail

Similar words

Gefängnis: A formal prison facility for people serving court-imposed sentences.
JVA: An official correctional facility where judicial authorities carry out sentences.
Haft: Confinement that restricts physical freedom during legal proceedings or investigation.

Definition in German

Gefängnis; kurz für eine Haftanstalt, oft in festen Wendungen wie im Knast sitzen gebraucht.

Word origin

The noun Knast belongs to colloquial German, but its precise historical source remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In im Knast sitzen, im means in dem, and the location is expressed with the dative.

Opposites

Word lists with this word