secuestro

/seh-KWES-troh/

kidnapping

A large, shadowy figure is forcefully pulling a smaller, distressed person away from a brightly lit area into the darkness, illustrating abduction.

The primary meaning of secuestro is kidnapping or abduction of a person.

secuestro(noun)

mB2

kidnapping

abduction of a person

hijacking

taking control of a vehicle (plane, ship, etc.)

Also:

abduction

📝 In Action

El secuestro de la aeronave duró varias horas antes de que interviniera la policía.

The hijacking of the aircraft lasted several hours before the police intervened.

La familia pagó el rescate para asegurar la liberación del rehén.

The family paid the ransom to ensure the hostage's release.

Las autoridades están investigando el secuestro de un empresario local.

Authorities are investigating the kidnapping of a local businessman.

Word Connections

Synonyms

rapto (abduction (often implies quick or forced taking))
plagio (kidnapping (less common, formal))

Common Collocations

secuestro exprés – express kidnapping (short-term, rapid ransom demand)
víctima de secuestro – kidnapping victim

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

This noun is always masculine: 'el secuestro' (the kidnapping), 'un secuestro' (a kidnapping). Remember the gender even though it describes an action.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Act and the Person

Mistake: "Usar 'secuestro' para la persona que secuestra."

Correction: The act is 'el secuestro'. The person who commits the act is 'el/la secuestrador/a'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Context

Due to the serious nature of the topic, this word is primarily used in formal settings, news reports, or legal discussions.

A uniformed authority figure is placing a large metal chain and padlock around a wooden storage chest, symbolizing the official seizure of property.

Another meaning of secuestro is the seizure (taking control) of goods or property.

secuestro(noun)

mC1

seizure

taking physical or legal control of goods/property

sequestering

setting aside assets, often by court order

Also:

confiscation

📝 In Action

El juez dictaminó el secuestro de las cuentas bancarias del sospechoso.

The judge ordered the seizure of the suspect's bank accounts.

La policía realizó el secuestro de la droga y las armas encontradas en el almacén.

The police carried out the confiscation of the drugs and weapons found in the warehouse.

Word Connections

Synonyms

incautación (confiscation, seizure)
embargo (embargo, lien)

Common Collocations

secuestro de bienes – seizure of assets
orden de secuestro – seizure order

💡 Grammar Points

Legal Language

In legal contexts, 'secuestro' means taking control of property, not people. It's almost always followed by 'de' (of) to specify the items being taken.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If you hear 'secuestro' referring to money or documents, it means the government or a court is taking temporary control of them.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: secuestro

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'secuestro' in its legal/property sense?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

secuestrar(to kidnap, to seize) - verb

secuestrador(kidnapper (male)) - noun

secuestrada(kidnapped woman/victim) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'secuestro' used for both people and objects?

Yes, 'secuestro' refers to the kidnapping of a person or the hijacking of a vehicle. In a formal, legal setting, it also means the seizure or confiscation of property or assets (like money or documents) by official order.

Is there a difference between 'secuestro' and 'rapto'?

Both mean abduction, but 'rapto' often implies a quick, sudden taking, and sometimes historically carried the connotation of taking a woman against her will, often with sexual motives. 'Secuestro' is the broader, more common term for kidnapping for ransom or political purposes.