Spanish word

cárcel

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkaɾθel/

Meaning

  • feminine nounprison

Example

Mi hermano está en la cárcel.

My brother is in prison.

Illustration for cárcel (prison)

More examples

Después del juicio, lo llevaron a la cárcel.

After the trial, he was taken to prison.

Core concept

Institution where people are lawfully held as punishment or while their legal process continues.

Common phrases

  • entrar en la cárcel

    go to prison

  • visitar la cárcel

    visit prison

  • cumplir condena en la cárcel

    serve time in prison

Similar words

prisionero: Person captured for a crime and held in custody.
preso: Person imprisoned after criminal proceedings or under a court sentence.
detenido: Person temporarily held by police for questioning or investigation.
condenado: Person found guilty at trial with a court-imposed sentence.

Definition in Spanish

Edificio o establecimiento donde se encierra a personas por orden judicial para cumplir una pena o hasta la resolución de su proceso.

Word origin

From Latin carcer 'prison', the term passed through Vulgar Latin and Old Spanish carçel to become cárcel.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech cárcel is the common term, while prisión appears more often in formal or legal contexts.

Other meanings

  • jailnoun
  • lockupnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • encarcelarincarcerateverb
  • encarceladoincarceratedadjective

Word lists with this word