How to Say "jail" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “jail” is “cárcel” — use 'cárcel' for a local, often short-term facility, like where someone might be held while awaiting trial or for a minor offense..
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cárcel
NounA2General
Use 'cárcel' for a local, often short-term facility, like where someone might be held while awaiting trial or for a minor offense.
Examples
El ladrón fue enviado a la cárcel por diez años.
The thief was sent to jail for ten years.
prisión
NounB1General
Use 'prisión' as a general term for a place of long-term incarceration, often interchangeable with the English 'prison'.
Examples
El ladrón fue enviado a la prisión por diez años.
The thief was sent to prison for ten years.
rejas
/REH-hahs//ˈrexas/
NounB1Informal
Use 'rejas' informally to refer to being locked up or behind bars, emphasizing the state of confinement rather than the specific building.
Examples
El criminal pasará diez años tras las rejas.
The criminal will spend ten years behind bars.
Using 'Tras'
In this context, 'tras' (behind) is the most common word used before 'las rejas' to describe someone being in prison.
Cárcel vs. Prisión
Learners often confuse 'cárcel' and 'prisión'. While they can be interchangeable, remember 'cárcel' leans towards shorter-term or local detention, whereas 'prisión' is more commonly used for longer-term sentences and the broader concept of imprisonment.
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