cárcel
/KAR-sel/
prison
The primary meaning of cárcel refers to a physical place of detention, such as a prison or jail.
cárcel(Noun)
prison
?a long-term state institution for criminals
,jail
?a short-term local facility, e.g., for awaiting trial
penitentiary
?a more formal term for a large state or federal prison
📝 In Action
El ladrón fue enviado a la cárcel por diez años.
A2The thief was sent to prison for ten years.
Pasó la noche en la cárcel del pueblo después de la pelea.
B1He spent the night in the town jail after the fight.
Las condiciones en esa cárcel son muy malas.
B1The conditions in that prison are very bad.
💡 Grammar Points
It's a Feminine Noun
Even though 'cárcel' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. This is a common pattern for words ending in '-el'. Always say 'la cárcel' (the prison) or 'una cárcel' (a prison).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'el' instead of 'la'
Mistake: "El cárcel es grande."
Correction: La cárcel es grande. Remember to use the feminine article 'la' or 'una' with it!
⭐ Usage Tips
'Prison' vs. 'Jail'
In Spanish, 'cárcel' is often used for both 'prison' (for long sentences) and 'jail' (for short stays or awaiting trial). The context usually makes the meaning clear.
Figuratively, cárcel can describe a situation, feeling, or relationship that feels inescapable, like a trap or a prison.
cárcel(Noun)
prison
?figurative, a confining situation or state of mind
trap
?a situation one feels they can't escape from
📝 In Action
Para ella, su matrimonio se había convertido en una cárcel.
C1For her, her marriage had become a prison.
Sentía que su pequeño pueblo era una cárcel de la que no podía escapar.
B2He felt that his small town was a prison he couldn't escape from.
La timidez puede ser una cárcel que te impide conocer gente nueva.
B2Shyness can be a prison that keeps you from meeting new people.
⭐ Usage Tips
Poetic Usage
This meaning is great for creative writing or expressing strong feelings of being trapped. You'll often find it in books, songs, and dramatic conversations to describe things like a bad relationship, a dead-end job, or a negative state of mind.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cárcel
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cárcel' in a figurative (not literal) way?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cárcel' and 'prisión'?
In everyday conversation, they are often used interchangeably, much like 'jail' and 'prison' in English. If you want to be specific, 'cárcel' can sometimes refer to a smaller, local jail for shorter sentences, while 'prisión' is a more general term. But in most contexts, you can use either one.
Why does 'cárcel' have an accent mark?
The accent on the 'á' is a guide for pronunciation. It tells you to put the stress on that syllable: CAR-cel. Without it, the rules of Spanish stress would make you say 'car-CEL', which is incorrect.