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"Abduct" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "raptar", and "kidnap" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "secuestrar". Learn more about the difference between "abduct" and "kidnap" below.
abduct(
uhb
-
duhkt
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (general)
a. raptar
One week after she had been abducted, the girl managed to escape to safety.Una semana después de haber sido raptada, la chica logró escapar y ponerse a salvo.
b. secuestrar
Rebels have abducted the president and are holding him for ransom.Los rebeldes secuestraron al presidente y piden un rescate por él.
kidnap(
kihd
-
nahp
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to abduct)
a. secuestrar
Help! A hooded man has kidnapped my son!¡Socorro! ¡Un hombre encapuchado ha secuestrado a mi hijo!
b. raptar
A group of terrorists kidnapped three people and demanded a ransom of a million dollars.Un grupo de terroristas raptaron a tres personas y exigieron un rescate de un millón de dólares.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
2. (kidnapping)
a. el secuestro (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A police report came out saying there have been five kidnaps in the last week.Un informe de la policía salió diciendo que ha sido cinco secuestros en la última semana.
