French word

prisonnier

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁizonje/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprisoner

Example

Il est prisonnier depuis trois ans.

He has been a prisoner for three years.

Illustration for prisonnier (prisoner)

More examples

Le prisonnier a demandé un avocat.

The prisoner asked for a lawyer.

Core concept

A person whose movement is stopped because another person, institution, or force holds them.

Common phrases

  • être prisonnier

    be a prisoner

  • prisonnier politique

    political prisoner

  • prisonnier de guerre

    prisoner of war

  • faire prisonnier

    take prisoner

Similar words

détenu: A person held in prison or a detention center.
condamné: A person convicted of a crime and serving a sentence.
otage: A person held captive to pressure others or achieve a goal.

Definition in French

Personne privée de liberté par arrestation, condamnation ou capture, empêchée de sortir.

Word origin

Prisonnier is an Old French formation based on prison and the agentive suffix -ier; prison ultimately derives from Latin prehensio, a seizure or capture.

Usage tips

  • Prisonnier is broader than détenu, which usually denotes someone held in prison, and condamné, which denotes someone sentenced after conviction.

Other meanings

  • inmatenoun
  • prisoner of warnoun

Opposites

  • personne librefree personnoun
  • libéréfreed personnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word