Spanish Conversation · Level 69
60 words
Spanish word
detención
Pronunciation
IPA/detenˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine nounarrest
Example
La policía ordenó la detención del ladrón anoche.
The police ordered the arrest of the thief last night.
More examples
La detención preventiva se prolongó varias semanas.
The preventive detention lasted several weeks.
Core concept
Person in handcuffs.
Common phrases
orden de detención
arrest warrant
detención policial
police arrest
detención preventiva
preventive detention
Similar words
arresto: Formal act by authorities of taking someone into custody.
prisión: Facility where people deprived of freedom are kept.
retención: Temporary holding of a person or object without releasing it.
Definition in Spanish
Privación temporal de la libertad aplicada por una autoridad, frecuentemente en relación con la comisión o sospecha de un delito.
Word origin
From Latin detentio (de + tenēre 'to hold'), via the verb detener and the suffix -ción to form a noun for the official act of holding someone in custody.
Usage tips
- English 'detention' often means school punishment or short holding, while Spanish detención usually refers specifically to police or legal custody.
Other meanings
- detentionnoun
- stopnoun
Opposites
- liberaciónreleasenoun
- libertadfreedomnoun
Related words
- detenerarrestverb
- detenidodetaineenoun