arrestaron
“arrestaron” means “they arrested” in Spanish (referring to police, authorities, or a group of people).
they arrested, you all arrested
Also: they detained
📝 In Action
La policía llegó rápido y arrestaron a los tres sospechosos.
B1The police arrived quickly and they arrested the three suspects.
¿Quiénes fueron? ¿Ustedes arrestaron al ladrón o fue otro equipo?
B2Who was it? Did you all arrest the thief or was it another team?
Dicen que los agentes los arrestaron sin darles una explicación.
C1They say the agents arrested them without giving them an explanation.
Indicative
Imperfect
Present
Preterite
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: arrestaron
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'arrestaron'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'arrestar' comes from Medieval Latin *arrestare*, meaning 'to stop' or 'to stay'. It's related to the idea of stopping someone in their tracks and placing them under custody.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'arrestaron' means 'they arrested' or 'you all arrested'?
You need context! In most of Spain, 'arrestaron' almost always means 'they arrested (ellos/ellas)'. In Latin America, it can mean either 'they arrested' or the formal 'you all arrested (ustedes)', so listen to who the speaker is addressing.
Is 'arrestaron' a regular verb?
Yes, 'arrestar' is a regular verb. This means it follows the standard pattern for verbs that end in -ar, making its conjugations predictable and easy to learn.