entführen

/ɛntˈfyːʁən/

verb B2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: entführt
past: entführte
perfect: hat entführt

Meaning

to kidnap
- Der Mann wurde entführt.
  
  The man was kidnapped.
- Die Täter entführten den Sohn des Unternehmers. Sie forderten viel Geld.
  
  The perpetrators kidnapped the businessman's son. They demanded a lot of money.

Similar words

kidnappen

entführen is the standard German verb for "to kidnap" or "to hijack"; kidnappen is an English loanword used more informally, often specifically for kidnapping a person for ransom.

Similar in other languages

Spanish

secuestrar

secuestrar is the Spanish word for the same thing — both mean "to kidnap."

Portuguese

sequestrar

sequestrar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to kidnap."

Practice

1 What does entführen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Der Mann wurde ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches entführen?

verb

Last updated 2026-09-24