is imprisoned

[ɪz ɪmˈprɪzənd]
verb phrase
está encarcerado/a
1. to be confined in prison; to be held in captivity by legal authority
He is imprisoned for committing a serious crime.
Ele está encarcerado por cometer um crime grave.
2. to be kept from freedom or liberty
She feels imprisoned by her circumstances.
Ela se sente aprisionada pelas suas circunstâncias.
In Brazil, the phrase 'está preso/a' is used both in legal contexts and colloquially to refer to incarceration. The criminal justice system in Brazil has high incarceration rates, and this term is frequently used in news media and everyday conversation. In the USA and English-speaking contexts, 'imprisoned' is the formal legal term, while 'locked up' or 'jailed' are common colloquialisms.
NYC Slang
locked up
Synonyms / Sinônimos
is incarceratedis jailedis confinedis detained
Antonyms / Antônimos
is freeis releasedis liberated

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
está encarcerado/a
most common and formal usage
General Brazilian
está preso/a
colloquial and widely used in all regions
Portugal
está aprisionado/a
more formal; literally 'imprisoned'
São Paulo
está preso/a
predominant colloquial usage

Related Words

imprisonmentprisonprisonerincarceratejaildetentionconfinement

Related Idioms & Phrases

behind bars
doing time
locked away
estar atrás das grades (pt-br)
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