Spanish Conversation · Level 184
15 words
Spanish word
calabozo
Pronunciation
IPA/kalaˈβoθo/
Meaning
- masculine nouncell
Example
Los prisioneros están en el calabozo.
The prisoners are in the cell.
More examples
Lo llevaron al calabozo por la noche.
They took him to the cell at night.
Core concept
Small, dimly lit holding cell.
Similar words
cárcel: Official prison building where people convicted of crimes are detained.
celda: Compact private cell in a jail or prison for housing one inmate.
mazmorra: Deep, old dungeonlike cell, typically underground and associated with castles or torture.
Definition in Spanish
Lugar cerrado donde se encierra a una persona, por lo general una celda pequeña y oscura; término con uso literal y a veces figurado.
Word origin
Formed in medieval Spanish on the Iberian Peninsula and long used to name a small prison room that could also be invoked figuratively.
Usage tips
- In conversation calabozo often sounds more literary or dramatic than celda and is commonly used metaphorically for an oppressive situation.
Other meanings
- dungeonnoun
- jail cellnoun
Opposites
- libertadfreedomnoun