Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| prigione | /priˈd͡ʒo.ne/ | feminine |
| carcere | /ˈkar.t͡ʃe.re/ | masculine |
| fresco | /ˈfres.ko/ | masculine |
All these terms refer to a place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes. You may encounter the synonym penitenziario, which specifically means penitentiary. Common phrases include Essere in prigione (To be in prison), Andare in carcere (To go to prison) and Scontare una pena (To serve a sentence).
Which one should you use?
prigione is the more common, everyday word for prison used in general conversation, while carcere is the more formal and technical term used in legal or administrative contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When stating that someone is 'in prison', use the preposition in without an article before both carcere and prigione, resulting in the phrases in carcere and in prigione.
How do you pronounce it?
/priˈdʒo.ne/ (three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable).
Did you know?
- When Italians say scontare una pena, the verb scontare literally means 'to discount' or 'to pay off', treating a prison sentence like a financial debt.
- The Italian word carcere shares an ancient root with the word 'circle' because early enclosures were often designed as circular pits or pens.
- In Italian literature, the distinction between prigione and carcere is often used to shift the tone from a personal, emotional struggle to a cold, institutional one.
Examples in context
- È in carcere ora.She's in prison now.This sentence shows how to use carcere to say someone is in prison.Tatoeba #6621327 by Guybrush88, translation #6575995 by Eccles17
- Lui è in prigione.He's in prison.This sentence shows how to use prigione to say someone is in prison.Tatoeba #1700874 by Guybrush88, translation #1699597 by CK
- Tom è in prigione.Tom is in prison.Tatoeba #3838325 by Guybrush88, translation #1024988 by CK
- Lui è in prigione da tre anni.He has been in prison for three years.
- Il criminale è stato condannato a dieci anni di carcere.The criminal has been sentenced to ten years in prison.
- 334 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are discussing a true crime documentary.
- FrancescoIl film parla di una prigione di massima sicurezza.The movie is about a maximum security prison.
- SofiaSembra un posto davvero terribile.It looks like a truly terrible place.
- FrancescoSì, la vita in quella prigione era durissima.Yes, life in that prison was very hard.
- SofiaPoveri prigionieri.Poor prisoners.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prison” translations and entries prigione, carcere, fresco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carcere, fresco, prigione, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
