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Prison
السجن (as-sijn) is an Arabic noun meaning 'prison' or 'jail,' referring to a place of confinement where people are held as punishment for crimes or awaiting trial. It is commonly used in legal, news, and everyday contexts when discussing the criminal justice system. The word can also be used metaphorically to describe any situation of confinement or restriction.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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قضى الرجل عشر سنوات في السجن.
Qaḍā ar-rajul ʿashir sanawāt fī as-sijn.
The man spent ten years in prison.
تم نقل المجرم إلى السجن المركزي.
Tamma naqlu al-mujrim ilā as-sijn al-markazī.
The criminal was transferred to the central prison.
الحياة في السجن صعبة جداً.
Al-ḥayāt fī as-sijn ṣaʿbah jiddan.
Life in prison is very difficult.
حُكم عليه بالسجن لمدة خمس سنوات.
Ḥukima ʿalayhi bi-as-sijn li-muddat khams sanawāt.
He was sentenced to five years in prison.
يعمل محاميها على إطلاق سراحه من السجن.
Yaʿmal muḥāmīhā ʿalā iṭlāq sarāḥih min as-sijn.
Her lawyer is working to secure his release from prison.
In Arabic-speaking countries, the prison system reflects both modern legal frameworks and historical traditions. The concept of imprisonment as punishment has evolved over centuries, and references to prisons appear frequently in Arabic literature, news media, and social discourse. The word السجن carries significant weight in discussions about justice, human rights, and social issues throughout the Arab world.
Use السجن when referring to a physical place of incarceration or as the destination of a legal sentence. The word is formal and appropriate in both written and spoken Arabic. When discussing time spent in prison, use the preposition في (in) followed by السجن. Remember that السجين (prisoner) is the related noun for a person in prison, not السجن itself.
The Arabic word السجن (as-sijn) translates directly to 'prison' or 'jail' in English. It refers to an institution or physical location where individuals are confined as a form of legal punishment for criminal offenses or while awaiting trial. This word is fundamental to discussions of law, justice, and the criminal system in Arabic-speaking countries.
السجن is a masculine singular noun in Arabic. When pluralized, it becomes السجون (as-sujūn). The word can be used with various grammatical structures depending on context:
The word السجن appears regularly in news reports, legal documents, literature, and everyday conversation in Arabic. It is used when discussing:
When learning about السجن, students should also become familiar with related words:
Several phrases incorporate السجن in standard Arabic usage:
In Arabic-speaking countries, the prison system reflects centuries of legal tradition combined with modern criminal justice frameworks. Prisons have played significant roles in political history, and references to imprisonment appear throughout Arabic literature and contemporary media. The concept of السجن extends beyond its literal meaning to symbolize loss of freedom, injustice, or difficult circumstances in metaphorical usage.
English speakers learning Arabic should note that السجن is a concrete noun referring specifically to the place of imprisonment, not to the act of imprisoning or the person imprisoned. To refer to someone in prison, use السجين (the prisoner). The word is formal and appropriate for both written and spoken Arabic, making it essential vocabulary for anyone studying news, legal Arabic, or general proficiency. Practice using it with prepositions like في (in), من (from), and إلى (to) to develop natural usage patterns.