سِجْن
sijnmasculine
The Arabic word for jail is سِجْن (sijn). If unsure, use سِجْن. Wiktionary also lists حَبْس (ḥabs).
Meaning: place for short-term confinement (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سِجْن | sijn | masculine |
| حَبْس | ḥabs | masculine |
The term is used to describe a place for short-term confinement.
What does it mean word for word?
The word حَبْس is derived from the root meaning 'to restrain' or 'to confine'.
Which one should you use?
سِجْن is the standard term for a prison or jail, often implying a more permanent or formal institution. In contrast, حَبْس refers more specifically to the act of confinement or a place of temporary detention.
How do you pronounce it?
sijn
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the root of حَبْس can be used to describe a physical blockage, such as a clog in a pipe or a dam that stops the flow of water.
- The root of حَبْس is used in legal terminology to describe a 'waqf', which is a religious endowment or trust that is held and cannot be sold.
- Classical Arabic poets and philosophers often used سِجْن as a metaphor for the human body, describing it as a prison that confines the soul.
Examples in context
- إنه مسجون في السجن لمدة عام.He is imprisoned in jail for one year.
- تم توجيه عقوبة إلى الجندي في الجيش وتم وضعه في السجن التأديبي.The soldier in the army was punished and placed in the disciplinary jail.
- تم إلقاء القبض عليه ووضعه في الحبس.He was arrested and put in jail.
- هَلْ هُنَاكَ سِجْنٌ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ هُنَا؟Hal hunāka sijnun qarībun min hunā?Is there a jail near here?
Example conversation
Mariam and Omar are watching a news report about a crime.
- مريم Maryamأَيْنَ سَيَذْهَبُ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ؟Ayna sayadhhabu hādhā ar-rajulu?Where will this man go?
- عمر Omarسَيَذْهَبُ إِلَى السِّجْنِ.Sayadhhabu ilā as-sijn.He will go to the jail.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ هُوَ سِجْنٌ مُؤَقَّتٌ؟Hal huwa sijnun mu'aqqat?Is it a temporary jail?
- عمر Omarنَعَمْ، هَذَا هُوَ السِّجْنُ الْمَحَلِّيُّ.Na'am, hādhā huwa as-sijnu al-mahalliyyu.Yes, that is the local jail.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jail” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
