encarcelar

to imprison

verb en-kahr-seh-LAHR Rare

Origin: From en- + cárcel (prison), from Latin 'carcer'.

Also means

to jail

Usage Note

Encarcelar is a regular -ar verb meaning to put someone in prison. The related noun is encarcelamiento (imprisonment). It is more formal than the colloquial meter en la cárcel. The passive construction is common in journalism: fue encarcelado (he was imprisoned). Its opposite is liberar or poner en libertad.

Examples

"El juez decidió encarcelar al acusado."

Natural Translation

The judge decided to imprison the accused.

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