nounnounadjective

le prisonnier

prisoner

C'est une personne qui est enfermée et ne peut pas sortir, souvent parce qu'elle a fait quelque chose d'interdit.

The French word "prisonnier" is an adjective and a noun that means "prisoner" in English.

Meaning:

As a noun:
- It refers to a person who is confined or detained in a prison or captivity.
- Example: Il est un prisonnier politique. - "He is a political prisoner."
As an adjective:
- It describes someone or something that is captive, imprisoned, or trapped.
- Example: Un oiseau prisonnier dans une cage. - "A bird trapped in a cage."

Parts:

"prison" means prison or jail.
The suffix "-nier" often form nouns indicating a person associated with or characterized by something.
Hence, "prisonnier" literally implies "one who is in prison."

Synonyms:

captif (captive)
incarcéré (incarcerated)
détenu (detainee)
otage (hostage, although this is a more specific term)
emprisonné (imprisoned, typically an adjective)

Antonyms:

libre (free)
indépendant (independent)
affranchi (freed person, emancipated)

In summary, prisonnier is used to denote someone who is held captive or incarcerated, either literally in prison or figuratively trapped in a situation.