secuestro

kidnapping

noun seh-KWEHS-troh Less Common

Also means

hijacking

Usage Note

Secuestro covers both the kidnapping of a person and the hijacking of a vehicle (secuestro aéreo = plane hijacking). The verb is secuestrar and the perpetrator secuestrador/a. It also has a legal sense of 'seizure' or 'impoundment' of assets (secuestro de bienes). Do not confuse with rescate ('ransom, rescue').

Examples

"El secuestro duró tres días."

Natural Translation

The kidnapping lasted three days.

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