How to Say "to kidnap" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to kidnap” is “secuestrar” — use 'secuestrar' for the general act of kidnapping someone, especially for ransom or to exert pressure.
Use 'secuestrar' for the general act of kidnapping someone, especially for ransom or to exert pressure.
Learn more →
Use 'raptar' when the kidnapping involves taking someone away by force, often with a connotation of abduction or elopement, though it can also be used for general kidnapping.
Learn more →seh-kwes-TRARsekuesˈtɾaɾ
Examples
Intentaron secuestrar al hijo del empresario.
They tried to kidnap the businessman's son.
Un grupo armado secuestró el avión comercial.
An armed group hijacked the commercial plane.
Es horrible pensar que alguien pueda secuestrar a un niño.
It is horrible to think that someone could kidnap a child.
The Personal 'a'
When you kidnap a specific person, you must use 'a' before the victim's name: 'Secuestraron a María'.
Direct Action
In Spanish, the person being kidnapped is the direct receiver of the action, just like in English.
Missing the 'a'
Mistake: “Secuestraron el niño.”
Correction: Secuestraron AL niño. Because the child is a person, we combine 'a' + 'el' into 'al'.
rahp-TAHRrapˈtaɾ
Examples
Intentaron raptar al hijo del presidente.
They tried to kidnap the president's son.
La policía busca a los hombres que querían raptar a la niña.
The police are looking for the men who wanted to abduct the girl.
Es un crimen muy grave raptar a una persona.
It is a very serious crime to kidnap a person.
The Personal 'A'
Since this action is performed on a person, you must use the word 'a' before the victim. For example: 'Raptar a alguien'.
Regular Pattern
This verb follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, so it conjugates exactly like 'hablar' or 'cantar'.
Forgetting the 'A'
Mistake: “Raptar el niño.”
Correction: Raptar al niño. Because 'niño' is a person, we need the 'personal a' (a + el = al).
Choosing Between 'Raptar' and 'Secuestrar'
Learners often confuse 'raptar' and 'secuestrar'. While both can mean 'to kidnap', 'secuestrar' is the more frequent and direct translation for the crime. 'Raptar' can sometimes imply abduction or a more forceful taking away, but 'secuestrar' is the safer, more common choice for general kidnapping.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.