Gefangener
[ɡəˈfaŋənɐ]masculine
The English word prisoner is translated into German as Gefangener. Wiktionary also lists Gefangene and Häftling.
Meaning: person incarcerated in a prison (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gefangener | [ɡəˈfaŋənɐ] (narrow) | masculine |
| Gefangene | feminine | |
| Häftling | /ˈhɛftlɪŋ/ | masculine |
| Strafgefangener | masculine | |
| Gefängnisinsasse | masculine |
The term for a person incarcerated in a prison.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Gefangener is derived from the verb fangen, which means to catch or to capture.
Which one should you use?
While Gefangener often implies someone who was captured, such as a prisoner of war, Häftling is the standard term for a person held in a correctional facility or jail. Additionally, Strafgefangener specifically refers to a convicted prisoner serving a criminal sentence, as opposed to someone in pre-trial detention.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gefangener is the primary formal term used to refer to a prisoner. For a more formal or bureaucratic tone, you can use Gefängnisinsasse to describe a prison inmate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of Gefangener is Gefangene.
Did you know?
- While Gefangener comes from 'catching', the root of Häftling is Haft, which shares an ancestor with the English word 'haft' referring to a handle or grip.
- In German legal contexts, a person in pre-trial detention is called an U-Häftling, where the 'U' stands for Untersuchung meaning 'investigation'.
- The term Insasse in Gefängnisinsasse is also used to describe residents of psychiatric hospitals or nursing homes, not just prisoners.
Examples in context
- Ist Tom ein Häftling?Is Tom a prisoner?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is a Häftling.Tatoeba #4572981 by Sirio60, translation #2262067 by CK
- Du bist der Häftling.You're the prisoner.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is the Häftling.Tatoeba #9927459 by Laoan, translation #2218434 by CK
- Ich bin ein Gefangener.I'm a prisoner.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is a Gefangener.Tatoeba #2204120 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2203759 by CK
- Der Gefangene wurde vor Gericht gestellt.The prisoner was brought to court.
- Ich habe gestern in der Zeitung von einem entflohenen Häftling gelesen.Yesterday, I read about an escaped prisoner in the newspaper.
- Das ist ein Insasse der Justizvollzugsanstalt.That is an inmate of the correctional facility.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are discussing a movie about a prison break.
- FelixDer Gefangener entkommt am Ende des Films.The prisoner escapes at the end of the movie.
- HannahWirklich? Hat er Hilfe von außen bekommen?Really? Did he get help from the outside?
- FelixJa, ein anderer Gefangener hat ihm geholfen.Yes, another prisoner helped him.
- HannahDas klingt nach einer spannenden Geschichte.That sounds like an exciting story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prisoner” translations and entries Gefangener, Gefangene, Häftling, Gefängnisinsasse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
