Inklingo

How to Say "seizure" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forseizureis capturause 'captura' when referring to the act of apprehending a person, especially by law enforcement or in a police context.

captura🔊B1

Use 'captura' when referring to the act of apprehending a person, especially by law enforcement or in a police context.

Learn more →
convulsiónB2

Choose 'convulsión' for the specific medical meaning of a seizure involving involuntary muscle contractions, often associated with epilepsy or high fever.

Learn more →
ocupaciónB2

Use 'ocupación' when 'seizure' refers to the act of taking control or possession of a place, like a building, or in the context of hotel occupancy rates.

Learn more →
embargo🔊B2

Employ 'embargo' in legal and financial contexts when referring to the seizure of assets or property, such as a house or bank account, due to debt or legal judgment.

Learn more →
secuestro🔊C1

Use 'secuestro' for the legal seizure or confiscation of goods, property, or funds by authorities, often as a result of a court order.

Learn more →
crisis🔊C1

Consider 'crisis' in a medical context, particularly when referring to a critical turning point or severe episode of an illness, like an epileptic crisis.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

captura

kahp-TOO-rahkapˈtuɾa

nounB1legal/police
Use 'captura' when referring to the act of apprehending a person, especially by law enforcement or in a police context.
A close-up view of a person's hand holding a simple net that has gently caught a brightly colored butterfly.

Examples

La policía celebró la captura del ladrón después de meses de búsqueda.

The police celebrated the capture of the thief after months of searching.

¿Me puedes enviar una captura de pantalla de esa conversación?

Can you send me a screenshot of that conversation?

La captura de datos es vital para este análisis.

Data capture is vital for this analysis.

Gender Tip

Remember that 'captura' is always feminine, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'una captura rápida' — a quick capture).

Mixing Noun and Verb

Mistake:Using 'captura' when you mean the action of capturing: *Quiero captura el momento*.

Correction: Use the verb form 'capturar': 'Quiero capturar el momento' (I want to capture the moment). 'Captura' is the result or the act itself, not the base verb.

convulsión

nounB2medical/physical
Choose 'convulsión' for the specific medical meaning of a seizure involving involuntary muscle contractions, often associated with epilepsy or high fever.

Examples

El niño tuvo una convulsión debido a la fiebre alta.

The child had a seizure due to the high fever.

ocupación

nounB2general/real estate
Use 'ocupación' when 'seizure' refers to the act of taking control or possession of a place, like a building, or in the context of hotel occupancy rates.

Examples

El hotel tiene una ocupación del 90%.

The hotel has a 90% occupancy rate.

embargo

em-BAR-goemˈbaɾ.ɣo

nounB2legal/financial
Employ 'embargo' in legal and financial contexts when referring to the seizure of assets or property, such as a house or bank account, due to debt or legal judgment.
A small, cozy house with a large, official legal seal or padlock placed on the front door by a formal person, representing the seizure of property.

Examples

El banco inició el proceso de embargo de su casa por falta de pago.

The bank began the foreclosure process on his house for non-payment.

Recibió una orden de embargo sobre su salario para pagar la deuda.

He received a wage garnishment order to pay the debt.

secuestro

seh-KWES-trohseˈkwes.tɾo

nounC1legal
Use 'secuestro' for the legal seizure or confiscation of goods, property, or funds by authorities, often as a result of a court order.
A uniformed authority figure is placing a large metal chain and padlock around a wooden storage chest, symbolizing the official seizure of property.

Examples

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.

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.

crisis

KREE-sisˈkɾi.sis

nounC1medical
Consider 'crisis' in a medical context, particularly when referring to a critical turning point or severe episode of an illness, like an epileptic crisis.
A tiny boat is dramatically tossed on dark, stormy waves, but a single ray of sunlight pierces the clouds, indicating a critical turning point in the situation.

Examples

Los médicos esperan que la crisis de la enfermedad llegue esta noche.

The doctors expect the turning point of the illness to arrive tonight.

Fue una crisis de fe lo que lo llevó a cambiar de vida.

It was a crisis of faith that led him to change his life.

Legal vs. Medical Seizures

The most common confusion is between 'captura' (apprehension of a person) and 'convulsión' (medical episode). Remember that 'captura' is about law enforcement catching someone, while 'convulsión' describes a physical, involuntary event in the body.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.