Difference Between Jail and Gaol

Jail vs Gaol

Since it is said that jail and gaol are two terms that refer to the same meaning, it is useful to know whether any type of difference between jail and gaol exists or not. They both mean a place that is used for the confinement of people in lawful detention, especially those that await trial in their local jurisdiction. If they mean the same, however, why are they different terms?

Jail

Jail, however, is the American version of the term. It is now the commonly used term internationally, except of course where gaol is used. Being in jail means that you have lost certain rights and liberties. However, inmates are afforded their basic needs of food and shelter and clothing. They are also given the opportunity to earn with the different jobs sponsored by the jail system.

Gaol

Gaol is the British version and was actually the original way of saying it. It was popularly used by the Anglo-Norman and French with the hard ‘g’ sound until later it underwent some revisions by the French, making it ‘jaiole’. Eventually, when people started to move to the New World, the Americas, and the term was shortened to jail. Gaol is still commonly used in the UK and Australia today.

Difference between Jail and Gaol

There is no real difference between the terms, basically, other than the fact that their usage will depend on which country you are from. If you are British or Australian you say gaol. If you are American or from anywhere else in the world, you use jail, as it is the internationally accepted term for what is a place where all the criminals go if they are convicted of a crime or if they are awaiting trial. Although most of their rights are stripped once people go to jail, they are still afforded by the state their basic needs and is given a livelihood.

Jail and gaol just means the same thing. There really is no major difference in them aside from the fact that they are used in different parts of the world by different people.