Spanish words for "jail"

Question

In English, particurally American English, there are a large number of non-standard expressions for the words "jail" and "penitentiary." For example, for jail we see the following expressions: the stir, the can, the pokey, the lock-up, and the hoosegow, among others.. For penitentiary, we see some of the following expressions: the penn, prison, and the big house, etc. In Spanish, I only know the terms "la carcel" for jail and "prisión" and "penitenciaría."

Would you know of any additional Spanish terms for "la carcel" and "la prisión"? Thank you.

Removed your indents. - 0074b507, Dec 26, 2011

Thank you. - SanMateo1, Dec 26, 2011

Answer 1

We have:

cárcel, prisión, celda, presidio, penitenciaría, calabozo, jaula.

Now, the used ones are: trullo, chirona, trena, talego.

Verbs: meter entre rejas, enchironar, ir al trullo

Answer 2

calabozo=calaboose

Origin of HOOSEGOW

Spanish juzgado panel of judges, courtroom, from past participle of juzgar to judge, from Latin judicare — more at judge

First Known Use: 1909

Qfreed, you **never** cease to amaze!! ;)) - territurtle, Dec 26, 2011

Answer 3

What is the difference between a jail, or gaol, and a penitentiary? We don't use the word penitentiary in British English, my spell check doesn't like it at all.

Yes, "gaol" is the British spelling for the same word as "jail" in American English. Just one of the many nuanced differences between American English and British English. - SanMateo1, Dec 26, 2011

Cool I just learned something instresting - Tasear, Dec 27, 2011