Bagne (en. Penal colony)

/baɲ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Formerly, a place where convicts were sent for hard labor.

The galley slaves were sent to the penal colony to serve their sentences.

Les galériens étaient envoyés au bagne pour purger leurs peines.

A group of prisoners working on projects, often under very harsh conditions.

The men in the penal colony of Cayenne lived in inhumane conditions.

Les hommes au bagne de Cayenne vivaient dans des conditions inhumaines.

A metaphor referring to a situation of isolation or suffering.

His work led him to a true intellectual penal colony.

Son travail l'a conduit à un véritable bagne intellectuel.

From Provençal 'bagna', derived from Latin 'bāgnum' meaning 'bay' or 'beach', in reference to places of exile.

to get out of the penal colony

To be freed from imprisonment or a difficult situation.

sortir du bagne

to be on the edge like a convict

To be in a critical or desperate situation.

être aux abois comme un bagnard

convict

A prisoner, especially one sentenced to hard labor.

bagnard

penal colony condition

The condition of a convict, often used to refer to harsh treatment.

bagnardise

Prolonged detention period.

He received a year in the penal colony for that minor offense.

Il a pris un an de bagne pour ce petit délit.

A difficult and relaxed life.

Working in that position is like a penal colony.

Travailler à ce poste, c'est comme un bagne.