Spanish word

secuestro

Pronunciation

IPA/seˈkwestɾo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounkidnapping

Example

Informaron sobre el secuestro de un niño en el barrio.

There were reports of the kidnapping of a child in the neighborhood.

Illustration for secuestro (kidnapping)

More examples

La policía detuvo a un sospechoso tras un intento de secuestro.

The police detained a suspect after an attempted kidnapping.

Core concept

Person held to demand ransom.

Common phrases

  • intento de secuestro

    attempted kidnapping

  • denunciar un secuestro

    report a kidnapping

  • víctima de secuestro

    kidnapping victim

Similar words

secuestrador: Individual who unlawfully captures another to secure payment or advantage.
rapto: Seizing and removing someone by force or deceit.
secuestro exprés: Temporary kidnapping for immediate monetary gain.
extorsión: Using threats or intimidation to coerce payment or other benefits.

Definition in Spanish

Retención ilegal de una persona con fines de obtener un rescate o de obligarla a actuar en contra de su voluntad.

Word origin

The word comes from Latin sequestrum 'seizure', which originally referred to confiscated property and later extended in legal usage to detaining a person to obtain ransom or concessions.

Usage tips

  • Often appears with rescate (ransom), so rescate + secuestro signals kidnapping, and English 'seizure' is a false friend because it usually means confiscation or a medical convulsion.

Other meanings

  • seizurenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word