secuestrado
/seh-kwehs-TRAH-doh/
kidnapped
Visualizing the adjective 'kidnapped' (secuestrado) as a person being illegally taken against their will.
secuestrado(Adjective)
kidnapped
?person or object taken illegally
hijacked
?vehicle, aircraft, or communication
,seized
?assets or goods by legal action
📝 In Action
El avión secuestrado aterrizó en el aeropuerto de emergencia.
B1The hijacked plane landed at the emergency airport.
Las joyas secuestradas por la policía fueron devueltas al dueño.
B2The jewels seized by the police were returned to the owner.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'secuestrado' must match the noun it describes in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine). For a female hostage, you would say 'secuestrada'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Estar
You often use this word with the verb 'estar' (to be) to describe the person's current state: 'La persona está secuestrada' (The person is kidnapped).
This illustration depicts the noun 'hostage' (secuestrado), emphasizing the state of being a victim held captive.
📝 In Action
El secuestrado fue encontrado sano y salvo por la policía.
B2The kidnapped person was found safe and sound by the police.
Negociaron la liberación de los secuestrados durante horas.
C1They negotiated the release of the hostages for hours.
Representing the past participle 'kidnapped' (secuestrado), showing the completed action of containment.
📝 In Action
El grupo ha secuestrado varios documentos clasificados.
A2The group has seized several classified documents.
Ellos habían secuestrado el barco antes de la tormenta.
B1They had hijacked the ship before the storm.
💡 Grammar Points
The Perfect Tense Builder
When used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create compound tenses (like 'he secuestrado'), the form 'secuestrado' never changes, regardless of who is doing the action or how many people there are.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Participles
Mistake: "Hemos secuestrados el coche."
Correction: Hemos secuestrado el coche. (The participle doesn't change when used with 'haber'.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: secuestrado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'secuestrado' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'secuestrado' and 'secuestro'?
'Secuestrado' is the person who was taken (the victim) or the description of being taken (adjective). 'Secuestro' is the action itself—the kidnapping or seizure.
Does 'secuestrado' only mean 'kidnapped'?
No. While 'kidnapped' is the primary meaning for people, it can also mean 'hijacked' (for a vehicle) or 'seized' (for assets or property, often in a legal context, like a court seizing funds).