тюрьма
tjurʹma[tʲʉrʲˈma]
The English word 'jail' is translated into Russian as тюрьма (tjurʹma).
Тюрьма is the standard term used for jail in Russian. While it is the general term for jail or prison, you may encounter other terms depending on the specific context of the confinement.
Meaning: place for short-term confinement (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of тюрьма is тюрьмы. When the word is the direct object of a verb, such as 'to go to jail', it changes to the form тюрьму.
How do you pronounce it?
tjurʹma
Did you know?
- In Russian culture, the concept of 'jail' is often linked to the word зона, which literally means 'zone'. This slang term refers to the prison camp system and is used widely in popular culture and film.
- The word тюрьма is likely not European in origin, but descends from a Proto-Turkic word meaning 'dungeon'. It is closely related to the Tatar word төрмә and the Kyrgyz word түрмө.
- While тюрьма is the general word for jail, the word сизо is used for the specific pretrial detention center where people are held before their trial.
Examples in context
- По тебе тюрьма плачет.You should be in jail.Tatoeba #4974682 by odexed, translation #3823305 by CK
- Тюрьма – очень суровая мера наказания.Jail is a very harsh punitive measure.Tatoeba #4645362 by Selena777, translation #619123 by ulyssemc1
- Тюрьма переполнена.The jail is overcrowded.Tatoeba #3439959 by Selena777, translation #3439774 by Hybrid
- Мой брат находится в тюрьме.My brother is in jail.
- Наш сосед отсидел в сизо два года.Our neighbor spent two years in jail (investigative isolation).
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are talking about a movie they just saw.
- Сергей SergeyВ этом фильме тюрьма выглядела очень старой.V etom filme tyur'ma vyglyadela ochen' staroy.In this movie, the jail looked very old.
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, она была пугающей.Da, ona byla pugayushchey.Yes, it was scary.
- Сергей SergeyГлавный герой попал в тюрьму по ошибке.Glavnyy geroy popal v tyur'mu po oshibke.The main character went to jail by mistake.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто был очень грустный момент.Eto byl ochen' grustnyy moment.That was a very sad moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jail” translations and entries тюрьма, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries тюрьма, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
