This is the 940th most frequent Spanish word.
cárcel
"Prison" or "jail."
Here, 'cárcel' is used in its primary meaning as 'prison,' referring to a physical place where individuals are confined.
La cárcel está ubicada en las afueras de la ciudad.
The prison is located on the outskirts of the city.
In this sentence, 'cárcel' is used metaphorically to represent the institution or concept of imprisonment rather than the physical building.
El miedo a la cárcel lo llevó a arrepentirse de sus errores.
The fear of prison made him repent his mistakes.
Here, 'cárcel' is metaphorically describing a limiting or confining thought pattern, extending the usage of the word beyond its literal sense.