presos
“presos” means “prisoners” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
prisoners
Also: inmates
📝 In Action
Los presos tienen derecho a una hora de ejercicio al día.
B1The prisoners have the right to one hour of exercise per day.
Muchos presos estudian una carrera mientras cumplen su condena.
B2Many inmates study for a degree while serving their sentence.
trapped
Also: imprisoned
📝 In Action
Estamos presos de un tráfico terrible.
B1We are trapped in terrible traffic.
Viven presos de sus propios miedos.
B2They live as prisoners of their own fears.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: presos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'presos' to describe an emotion?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'prensus', which means 'grabbed' or 'seized'. It is the same root that gave us the English word 'prehensile' (like a monkey's tail that grabs).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'presos' a verb?
Not exactly. While it acts like a past participle (a word derived from a verb), in modern Spanish it is almost always used as a noun or an adjective. To say 'they were captured,' you would usually use the verb 'apresar'.
Can I use 'presos' for objects?
It is mostly used for people or animals. However, you can use it figuratively for things that are 'stuck' or 'held' in a situation, like 'presos en la aduana' (stuck in customs).