noun
prison, jail
B1
Gefängnis: means 'prison' or 'jail'. Neuter noun (das Gefängnis). Plural Gefängnisse; genitive des Gefängnisses. Use prepositions: 'ins Gefängnis' (into prison, accusative) for movement, and 'im Gefängnis' (in prison, dative) for location. Genitive singular forms with -es (des Gefängnisses). Commonly used in legal contexts.
Examples
Das Gefängnis liegt außerhalb der Stadt.
The prison is located outside the town.
Der Richter verurteilte den Mann, weil belastende Beweise vorlagen, und er musste ins Gefängnis gehen.
The judge convicted the man because there was incriminating evidence, and he had to go to prison.
Ich gehe ins Gefängnis.
I'm going to prison.
Details
Mnemonics
picture of barred windows and a sign 'Gefängnis' above the gate
geh-FENG-nis — 'fence' like bars of a prison
das Gefängnis — many nouns ending in -nis are neuter (das)
Notes
Neuter noun; plural commonly 'Gefängnisse'. Used in legal and news contexts.