Inklingo

How to Say "inmates" in Spanish

English → Spanish

presos

/PREH-sohs//ˈpɾesos/

nounB1general
Use 'presos' when referring to people who are currently serving a sentence or are being held in a prison, focusing on their status as incarcerated individuals.
A high quality storybook illustration of people behind iron bars in a stone room.

Examples

Los presos tienen derecho a una hora de ejercicio al día.

The prisoners have the right to one hour of exercise per day.

Muchos presos estudian una carrera mientras cumplen su condena.

Many inmates study for a degree while serving their sentence.

Group Gender Rule

Even though 'presos' is masculine, we use it to talk about a group of prisoners that includes both men and women. If the group is only women, you would say 'presas'.

Presos vs. Prisioneros

Mistake: “Using 'prisioneros' for people in a standard city jail.”

Correction: Use 'presos' for legal/criminal contexts. 'Prisioneros' is usually reserved for war or kidnapping situations (prisioneros de guerra).

internos

/in-TER-nohs//inˈteɾnos/

nounC1formal
Use 'internos' when referring to individuals who are housed within a specific institution like a prison or a correctional facility, often highlighting their status as residents of that place.
A single figure wearing a simple, gray uniform standing behind two thick, stylized vertical bars in a sparsely lit room.

Examples

La policía realizó un registro entre los internos de la cárcel.

The police carried out a search among the inmates of the prison.

Los internos del colegio tienen un horario estricto.

The boarding school residents have a strict schedule.

Context Shift

This meaning is related to the verb 'internar' (to confine or admit) and often appears in formal contexts like law enforcement or education.

Presos vs. Internos

Learners often confuse 'presos' and 'internos'. While 'presos' is the most common and direct translation for 'prisoners' or 'inmates', 'internos' is used more when emphasizing the 'residence' aspect within the institution. Stick with 'presos' unless you have a specific reason to highlight the 'inmate' as a resident of the facility.

Related Translations

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