Gefängnis
/ɡəˈfɛŋnɪs/neuter
The English phrase 'prison' translates to German as Gefängnis. Wiktionary also lists Kerker and Zuchthaus.
Meaning: place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gefängnis | /ɡəˈfɛŋnɪs/ | neuter |
| Kerker | /ˈkɛrkər/ | masculine, slang |
| Zuchthaus | /ˈt͡sʊχthaʊ̯s/ | dated, neuter |
A prison is a place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes.
Which one should you use?
While Gefängnis is the standard term for a prison, Kerker is a more colloquial or dramatic term often used to imply a dungeon or a dark, unpleasant cell. Zuchthaus is an archaic term that specifically referred to a prison for hard labor and is no longer used in modern legal contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Kerker is considered slang. Zuchthaus is a dated term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Gefängnis is Gefängnisse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈfɛŋnɪs/
Did you know?
- German has a specific word Karzer for a prison cell used exclusively by universities to punish students for misconduct. It is a separate linguistic relative of the word Kerker.
- In some contexts, Germans use the word Knast as a slang term for prison, which functions similarly to the English word ' slammer'.
- The word Kerker descends from the Latin carcer, making it a linguistic cousin to the English word 'incarcerate'.
Examples in context
- Er ist im Gefängnis.He's in prison.This sentence is useful for showing how to say someone is in prison using Gefängnis.Tatoeba #606229 by virgil, translation #1699597 by CK
- Tom ist im Gefängnis.Tom is in prison.Tatoeba #1940962 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1024988 by CK
- Ich bin im Gefängnis.I'm in prison.Tatoeba #4729001 by Kabelsalat, translation #4728977 by Jesse
- 279 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are discussing a crime movie they just watched.
- HannahDas Ende war traurig.The ending was sad.
- FelixJa, er muss ins Gefängnis.Yes, he has to go to prison.
- HannahWie lange bleibt er dort?How long will he stay there?
- FelixZehn Jahre im Gefängnis.Ten years in prison.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prison” translations and entries Gefängnis, Kerker, Zuchthaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gefängnis, Kerker, Zuchthaus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
