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.
prisoner of/in
(figurative) A person who is unfree and severely restricted by a situation, a feeling, or their own thoughts.
Er fühlte sich wie ein Gefangener in seinem eigenen Leben.
He felt like a prisoner in his own life.
'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
For a person who is completely unfree because of fear, both Sklave and Gefangener can be used metaphorically. Sklave places greater emphasis on submission to fear, while Gefangener focuses more on being trapped and lacking freedom. Sklave fits a dominating power, while Gefangener fits strong inner restriction.
Er war ein Gefangener seiner Angst und wagte keinen Schritt nach draußen.
He was a prisoner of his fear and did not dare take a single step outside.
Er war ein Sklave seiner Angst und wagte keinen Schritt nach draußen.
He was a slave to his fear and did not dare take a single step outside.
