Gaol or Jail: The Name Game in the Slammer

Understanding “Gaol” vs. “Jail”

History of the Words

The words gaol and jail both mean a place where people are kept when they break the law. Long ago, people in England used the word gaol. In the United States and many other places, people use the word jail.

How to Use Them

Even though these words mean the same thing, jail is much more common today. You will mostly see gaol in older British writings.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember that jail is the word we use now. Think of it as the “new” way to spell it. Gaol looks old-fashioned, like it’s from a history book.

Examples of “Gaol” in Sentences

• The king sent the thief to gaol.
• In the story, the man escaped from gaol.
• The small town had only one gaol.
• She read about an old gaol in her history book.
• The pirate spent many years in gaol.

Examples of “Jail” in Sentences

• The police took him to jail.
• She visited her friend in jail.
• Some people work as guards at the jail.
• The boy learned about jail in school.
• The movie showed a scene inside a jail.

Summary

To sum up, “jail” and “gaol” both mean the same thing: a place where people are kept when they break the law. “Jail” is the word we use today, while “gaol” is an older form of the word, mostly used in historical contexts.