detención
/deh-ten-SYOHN/
arrest
Detención, meaning 'arrest' by authorities.
detención(noun)
arrest
?by police or authorities
,detention
?the state of being held
apprehension
?formal capture
📝 In Action
La detención del sospechoso ocurrió sin incidentes.
B2The suspect's arrest occurred without incident.
El abogado solicitó la liberación inmediata de su cliente de la detención.
C1The lawyer requested the immediate release of his client from detention.
Hubo una detención preventiva de 48 horas.
B2There was a 48-hour preventative detention (holding).
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that 'detención' is a feminine noun, so it must always be used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., 'la detención', 'una detención ilegal').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong verb
Mistake: "Hacer detención."
Correction: Use 'realizar una detención' or 'proceder a la detención.' The verb 'detener' is usually used for the action itself (e.g., 'detuvieron al ladrón').
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
'Detención' sounds more formal and legal than 'arresto' and is often the preferred term in official reports and legal documents.
Detención, meaning 'stop' or the act of halting movement.
detención(noun)
stop
?act of halting movement
,halt
?a pause or cessation
delay
?a stoppage in progress (less common than 'retraso')
📝 In Action
La detención del tren duró solo dos minutos.
B1The stopping of the train lasted only two minutes.
El motor sufrió una detención inesperada.
B2The engine suffered an unexpected halt.
Se requirió la detención total de la producción para hacer reparaciones.
B2The complete stop of production was required to make repairs.
💡 Grammar Points
Source Verb
This noun comes from the verb 'detener' (to stop or detain). If you understand how 'detener' works, you understand 'detención'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Technical Use
This meaning is often used in technical or formal descriptions of mechanical failures, traffic, or physical processes (e.g., the 'detención' of a chemical reaction).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: detención
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'detención' in the legal sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'detención' the same as 'arresto'?
They are very close, but 'detención' (detention) is a broader term for the act of holding someone, often temporarily, while 'arresto' (arrest) is the formal legal procedure of taking someone into custody. You might be in 'detención' before the 'arresto' is formalized.
How do I pronounce the 'c' in 'detención'?
In Spain, the 'c' before 'i' or 'e' sounds like a 'th' (like in 'think'). In most of Latin America, it sounds like an 's' (like in 'sun'). Both are correct!