prisoner
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prisoner
A person who is locked up in a prison or detention facility; a prisoner or inmate.
Der Häftling wurde wegen guter Führung vorzeitig aus der Haft entlassen.
The prisoner was released from detention early for good behavior.
The word is derived directly from 'die Haft' (detention/imprisonment). The ending '-ling' refers to a person characterized by something. A 'Häftling' (prisoner) is therefore literally a person who is in detention.
Nach zehn Jahren in Haft wurde er entlassen.
After ten years in prison, he was released.
'Häftling' (prisoner) is the neutral and official term used in legal, police, and administrative contexts. You often find it in the news, laws, and official reports.
Laut Polizeibericht konnte der Häftling fliehen.
According to the police report, the prisoner was able to escape.
Common verbs used with 'Häftling' (prisoner) describe actions in the justice system: 'einen Häftling entlassen' (to release a prisoner), 'einen Häftling verlegen' (to transfer a prisoner), or 'Häftlinge bewachen' (to guard prisoners).
Der Häftling wurde in ein anderes Gefängnis verlegt.
The prisoner was transferred to another prison.
prisoner / captive
'der Gefangene' and 'der Häftling' can often refer to the same person: someone who is in prison. 'Häftling' fits especially well in a legal or official context involving a detention facility or prison. 'Gefangener' is somewhat broader: the word can also refer to people held in captivity outside a normal prison, for example in war. So in the prison context, the words are often interchangeable, but 'Gefangener' is more general.
Am Morgen sprach der Häftling mit seinem Anwalt.
In the morning, the prisoner spoke with his lawyer.
Der Gefangene wurde nach fünf Jahren aus der Haft entlassen.
The prisoner was released from detention after five years.