cárcel
neutral, Mexico
In Mexican Spanish "jail" is cárcel. In everyday talk many Mexicans also say el bote, which is slang. Prisión is the more formal word used for prison.
Meaning: place where prisoners are held (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| cárcel | neutral, Mexico |
| prisión | formal |
| el bote | slang, Mexico |
Cárcel fits news, conversation and general use. Ir a la cárcel means "to go to jail".
Which one should you use?
El bote is casual and a bit joking, so it suits friends but not official texts. Prisión sounds more formal and is common in legal contexts.
Did you know?
- The word bote also means "can" or "bin" in Mexican Spanish, so el bote for jail is a figurative use.
Examples in context
- Lo llevaron a la cárcel.They took him to jail.
- Pasó una noche en el bote.He spent a night in the slammer.
Example conversation
Marcos and his sister Lupe talk about a news story at home in Puebla.
- Marcos¿Viste las noticias? Atraparon al ladrón.Did you see the news? They caught the thief.
- LupeSí, ya está en la cárcel.Yes, he is already in jail.
- MarcosQué bueno.Good.
