vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Prisión" is a noun which is often translated as "prison", and "preso" is a noun which is often translated as "prisoner". Learn more about the difference between "prisión" and "preso" below.
la prisión(
pree
-
syohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (jail)
a. prison
El preso se fugó de una prisión de máxima seguridad.The prisoner escaped from a maximum security prison.
b. penitentiary (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
La policía llevó al capo de la droga hasta la prisión.The police took the drug baron to the penitentiary.
a. imprisonment
En este caso, el juez declaró que la prisión incondicional era la única posibilidad para el asesino.In this case, the judge declared that unconditional imprisonment was the only possibility for the murderer.
b. prison sentence
El abogado recurrirá la prisión impuesta a su cliente.The lawyer will appeal against the prison sentence imposed on his client.
las prisiones
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
3. (literary) (restraints)
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
el preso, la presa(
preh
-
soh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Lo metieron preso por manejar en estado de embriaguez.He was jailed for drunk driving.
Creo que el marido de Maite estuvo preso por unos cinco años.I think Maite's husband was in prison for about five years.
a. gripped by
Los refugiados rescatados se veían agotados y presos del dolor.The rescued refugees looked exhausted and gripped by fear.
