Inklingo

How to Say "kidnapped" in Spanish

English → Spanish

secuestrado

seh-kwehs-TRAH-doh/se.kwesˈtɾa.ðo/

AdjectiveB1General
Use this word when referring to a person or object that has been illegally taken or abducted.
A small, simplified figure with a distressed expression is being held tightly and lifted away by a large, brown, gloved hand.

Examples

El secuestrado fue liberado sano y salvo.

The kidnapped person was released safe and sound.

El avión secuestrado aterrizó en el aeropuerto de emergencia.

The hijacked plane landed at the emergency airport.

Las joyas secuestradas por la policía fueron devueltas al dueño.

The jewels seized by the police were returned to the owner.

El grupo ha secuestrado varios documentos clasificados.

The group has seized several classified documents.

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'.

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.

Mixing Participles

Mistake: “Hemos secuestrados el coche.”

Correction: Hemos secuestrado el coche. (The participle doesn't change when used with 'haber'.)

secuestrado

Past ParticipleA2General
Use this form of 'secuestrar' only when it functions as a past participle with the auxiliary verb 'haber' to form compound tenses, indicating something has been seized or taken.

Examples

El equipo ha secuestrado información vital.

The team has seized vital information.

robado

/ro-BAH-dohs//roˈβaðos/

AdjectiveA2Archaic/Rare
This term is rarely used for people being kidnapped; it's primarily for inanimate objects that have been stolen or taken illegally, often in a historical context.
A wooden chest sitting open with golden coins spilling out onto a dark floor.

Examples

Los prisioneros robados fueron devueltos a sus familias.

The stolen prisoners were returned to their families.

La policía encontró los coches robados.

The police found the stolen cars.

Muchos de los diamantes robados nunca aparecieron.

Many of the stolen diamonds never appeared.

Gender and Number Agreement

Since this ends in -os, it must describe a plural masculine word (like 'coches') or a mixed group.

Using with 'Haber'

Mistake: “Hemos robados.”

Correction: When using 'have stolen' as an action, always use the singular 'robado'. Use 'robados' only as a description (the stolen things).

Choosing Between 'Secuestrado' and 'Robado'

The most common mistake is using 'robado' to mean 'kidnapped' when referring to people. While 'robado' can mean 'stolen' for objects, 'secuestrado' is the correct and standard term for people who have been abducted or illegally detained.

Related Translations

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