Spanish Conversation · Level 134
45 words
Spanish word
abducir
Pronunciation
IPA/aβðuˈθiɾ/
Meaning
- verbkidnap
Example
La familia teme que alguien abduzca a su hija.
The family fears that someone will kidnap their daughter.
More examples
La policía investigó si habían intentado abducir a un vecino.
The police investigated whether someone had attempted to kidnap a neighbor.
Core concept
Forcible carrying away of a person.
Common phrases
abducir a alguien
kidnap someone
intento de abducir
attempt to kidnap
Similar words
secuestrar: Kidnaps and holds a person to demand ransom or to profit from their detention.
raptar: Lures or seizes a person through deceit or physical force to carry them off.
Definition in Spanish
Llevar a una persona contra su voluntad a otro lugar, privándola de su libertad; en contextos técnicos, desplazar una parte del cuerpo hacia afuera.
Word origin
From Latin abducere (ab- 'away' + ducere 'to lead'), literally 'lead away' and later extended to both kidnapping and the outward movement of a body part.
Usage tips
- Spanish speakers usually prefer secuestrar for ordinary kidnapping, while abducir sounds more formal, technical, or literary and appears in news, legal texts, and alien-abduction stories.