Skip to content

karsel

kársel with stress marks

prison or jail

noun KAR-sel Spanish origin Rare

Usage Note

Karsel is a Spanish loanword for jail or prison that is now somewhat archaic in everyday speech, where bilangguan or kulungan are preferred. It still appears in formal writing and historical texts relating to the colonial period.

Examples

Beginner

" Ipinasok siya sa karsel. "

Natural Translation

He was put in jail.

Literal Translation

Put-inside he in-the jail.

Intermediate

" Isinugo siya sa karsel dahil sa krimen. "

Natural Translation

He/She was sent to prison because of the crime.

Literal Translation

Sent he/she to-the prison because of-the crime.

Advanced

" Sa mga lumang kuwento noong panahon ng Espanyol, marami ang itinapon sa karsel dahil lamang sa pagtutol nila sa pamahalaan. "

Natural Translation

In the old stories from the Spanish era, many were thrown into prison merely for opposing the government.

Literal Translation

In the old stories during time of Spanish, many the thrown to-the prison because only in opposition their in-the government.

Free · iOS & Android

Take Tagalog with you

The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.

Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.

How Tagalog words work

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.