Skip to content

kidnapping

kidnapping

noun kid-na-PEENG Rare
People & Society Crime

Origin: English 'kidnapping'

Also means

abduction

Usage Note

Kidnapping is an anglicism that French has adopted wholesale, including the spelling. The native alternative is enlèvement (abduction) or rapt (more literary). In legal and journalistic language, prise d'otage (hostage-taking) is often preferred. The verb kidnapper is also standard in informal speech.

Examples

"Le kidnapping de l'enfant a choqué le pays."

Natural Translation

The kidnapping of the child shocked the country.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic