prisoner / captive
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prisoner / captive
A person who is locked up in a prison or is in captivity, for example as a prisoner of war.
Dem Gefangenen gelang die Flucht aus dem Hochsicherheitsgefängnis.
The prisoner managed to escape from the high-security prison.
'Gefangener' (prisoner) is a substantivized participle and is declined like an adjective. Pay attention to the endings: 'der Gefangene' (the prisoner; definite article), but 'ein Gefangener' (a prisoner; indefinite article).
Der Gefangene wurde gestern verlegt.
The prisoner was transferred yesterday.
The word derives from the verb 'fangen' (to catch). A person who has been 'gefangen' (caught/captured) is a 'Gefangener' (prisoner/captive). The situation itself is called 'die Gefangenschaft' (captivity).
Nach zehn Jahren in Gefangenschaft kam er endlich frei.
After ten years in captivity, he was finally set free.
In the figurative meaning, a preposition or a genitive often follows in order to name the source of the lack of freedom. Typical patterns are 'Gefangener in + dative' (prisoner in + dative) or 'Gefangener + genitive' (prisoner of + genitive).
Er ist ein Gefangener seiner eigenen Ängste.
He is a prisoner of his own fears.
slave
'der Sklave' and 'der Gefangene' both describe a person who is not free. But the difference is important. A 'Sklave' belongs to another person, has no personal rights, and is forced to work. A 'Gefangener' is locked up or being held, for example in a prison or in war. However, he is not automatically the property of another person. Figuratively, both words can also express a strong lack of freedom: you can be a slave to a habit or a prisoner of your own fear. Learners may confuse the words because both are about lacking freedom. 'Sklave' emphasizes ownership and forced labor; 'Gefangener' emphasizes being locked up or captivity.
Der Gefangene durfte nur eine Stunde am Tag nach draußen.
The prisoner was allowed to go outside for only one hour a day.
In dem historischen Roman muss ein Sklave auf dem Feld arbeiten.
In the historical novel, a slave has to work in the field.