French word

kidnapper

Pronunciation

IPA/kidnape/

Meaning

  • verbkidnap

Example

Ils ont kidnappé son frère hier.

They kidnapped his brother yesterday.

Illustration for kidnapper (kidnap)

More examples

Les témoins ont vu deux hommes qui ont essayé de kidnapper quelqu'un.

The witnesses saw two men who tried to kidnap someone.

Core concept

An unwilling person is carried away while their freedom of movement is taken away.

Common phrases

  • kidnapper quelqu'un

    kidnap someone

  • se faire kidnapper

    get kidnapped

Similar words

enlever: To forcibly take someone away from a place.
séquestrer: To confine someone for a long time so they cannot leave.
prendre en otage: To hold someone hostage to force demands to be met.

Definition in French

Indique l'action d'emmener illégalement une personne ailleurs et de la priver de sa liberté.

Word origin

The French verb kidnapper comes from English kidnap, formed from kid and the obsolete verb nap in the sense of taking someone by force.

Usage tips

  • In the passive, French uses être and agrees the participle with the victim, as in elle a été kidnappée.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word