arrestado
/a-rres-TA-do/
arrested
When used as an adjective, 'arrestado' describes a male person who has been arrested.
arrestado(Adjective)
arrested
?describing a male person or group
,detainee
?when used as a noun: el arrestado
in custody
?informal description
📝 In Action
El hombre arrestado fue trasladado a la comisaría.
B1The arrested man was transferred to the police station.
Los arrestados tienen derecho a una llamada telefónica.
B2The detainees have the right to one phone call.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Match
When used as an adjective, 'arrestado' must match the person or people it describes. For a woman, you must say 'arrestada'; for multiple women, 'arrestadas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Noun Shortcut
You can drop the noun and just say 'el arrestado' (the arrested one) or 'los arrestados' (the arrested people). This is very common in official language.
As a past participle, 'arrestado' refers to the action of being arrested, often used with the auxiliary verb 'haber'.
📝 In Action
El oficial ha arrestado al ladrón.
A2The officer has arrested the thief.
Ella fue arrestada por conducir sin licencia.
B1She was arrested for driving without a license.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Haber' vs. 'Ser'
Use the verb 'haber' (like 'he,' 'ha,' 'han') with 'arrestado' to talk about actions that have been completed: 'Han arrestado al líder' (They have arrested the leader). Use 'ser' (like 'fue,' 'es') to describe who received the action (the passive voice): 'Ella fue arrestada'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Estar' for Action
Mistake: "El ladrón está arrestado."
Correction: Use 'ser' (fue/era arrestado) to describe the action of being arrested. 'Estar arrestado' is usually reserved for describing the ongoing state of being in custody.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arrestado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'arrestado' to describe a person, acting like an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'arrestado' and 'detenido'?
'Arrestado' and 'detenido' (detained) are often interchangeable, especially in news. 'Detenido' is slightly broader and can refer to being held temporarily for questioning, while 'arrestado' often implies a more formal legal charge.