How to Say "hostages" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “hostages” is “rehenes” — B2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
El grupo terrorista liberó a los rehenes después de las negociaciones.
The terrorist group released the hostages after the negotiations.
La policía intentó rescatar a los rehenes sin usar la fuerza.
The police tried to rescue the captives without using force.
El secuestrador exigió un rescate a cambio de la vida de los rehenes.
The kidnapper demanded a ransom in exchange for the lives of the hostages.
Always Plural
This word, 'rehenes,' is the plural form. If you need to talk about just one person, you must use the singular: 'un rehén' (a single hostage).
Gender Neutrality
Even though 'rehenes' is grammatically masculine (like 'los rehenes'), it refers to both male and female captives. It is a gender-neutral term for a group of people.
Rehenes vs. Prisioneros
Mistake: “Using 'prisioneros' when referring to people held for leverage.”
Correction: 'Rehenes' are people held to force demands from a third party (like a government). 'Prisioneros' (prisoners) are usually captured combatants or people serving a sentence.
Related Translations
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