penitentiary
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penitentiary
A historical term for a penal institution in which prisoners were forced to do hard labor and follow strict discipline. Today the term is often used colloquially for a very strict prison.
Früher wurden Diebe für Jahre ins Zuchthaus gesperrt.
In the past, thieves were locked up in the penitentiary for years.
The word is made up of 'Zucht' and 'Haus' (house). Here, 'Zucht' does not mean animal breeding, but is derived from 'züchtigen' (to discipline or punish). A 'Zuchthaus' was therefore literally a 'house of discipline.'
Die strenge Disziplin erinnerte ihn an Geschichten über das Zuchthaus.
The strict discipline reminded him of stories about the penitentiary.
'Zuchthaus' (penitentiary) is an outdated official term that is no longer used in German criminal law. Today the word is usually used colloquially, and often exaggeratedly, for a prison with very harsh conditions.
Für diesen kleinen Fehler kommst du schon nicht gleich ins Zuchthaus.
You won't be sent straight to the penitentiary for this little mistake.
The preposition 'in' is used with the accusative or dative depending on the context. Movement toward the place requires the accusative ('ins Zuchthaus' — into the penitentiary), while staying at the place takes the dative ('im Zuchthaus' — in the penitentiary).
Der Verbrecher wurde für zwanzig Jahre ins Zuchthaus gesperrt.
The criminal was locked up in the penitentiary for twenty years.
prison
'das Gefängnis' and 'das Zuchthaus' both refer to a penal institution, but they do not belong to the same normal usage. 'Gefängnis' is the modern, neutral word. 'Zuchthaus' is mainly a historical term for a very strict penal institution with hard labor and discipline. Today it can also colloquially mean a particularly strict prison, but it sounds old-fashioned or harsh. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to places for prisoners. In modern, neutral texts, 'Gefängnis' is almost always the right choice.
Im Geschichtsbuch steht, dass viele Gefangene damals im Zuchthaus arbeiten mussten.
The history book says that many prisoners had to work in the penitentiary back then.
Der Mann wurde verhaftet und später in ein Gefängnis gebracht.
The man was arrested and later taken to a prison.