Spanish Conversation · Level 107
60 words
Spanish word
prisionero
Pronunciation
IPA/pɾisjoˈneɾo/
Meaning
- masculine nounprisoner
Example
¿Dónde está el prisionero?
Where is the prisoner?
More examples
El prisionero político recibió visitas.
The political prisoner received visitors.
Core concept
Person held against their will inside a prison, detention camp, or other place of confinement.
Common phrases
prisionero político
political prisoner
prisionero de guerra
prisoner of war
Similar words
preso: Person held in a jail or prison, used commonly in everyday speech.
detenido: Temporarily held under arrest or detention during an investigation or police custody.
recluso: Person serving a long-term imprisonment, confined for an extended duration.
condenado: Person found guilty by a court and serving the punishment imposed by a sentence.
Definition in Spanish
Persona retenida contra su voluntad dentro de una cárcel, campo de detención u otra ubicación de privación de libertad.
Word origin
From Spanish prisión 'prison' plus the agent suffix -ero meaning 'person associated with', with prisión ultimately coming through Old French prison from Latin prehendere 'to seize'.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech Spanish often shortens prisionero to preso, while prisionero is more likely in official, military, or historical contexts.
Other meanings
- captivenoun
Related words
- prisiónprisonnoun
- prisionalprison-relatedadjective