kidnapping / hijacking
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kidnapping
The crime of taking a person to another place against their will, often using force, in order to hold them captive.
Die Entführung des Managers endete glücklicherweise mit seiner Freilassung.
The kidnapping of the manager fortunately ended with his release.
'Entführung' (kidnapping/hijacking) comes from the verb 'entführen' (to kidnap / to hijack). The prefix 'ent-' here means 'away', and 'führen' means 'to lead'. An 'Entführung' is therefore literally the 'leading away' of a person or thing against their will.
Die Polizei ermittelt wegen versuchter Entführung.
The police are investigating an attempted kidnapping.
The word belongs to a word family: the verb is 'entführen' (to kidnap / to hijack), the person carrying out the act is 'der Entführer' or 'die Entführerin' (the kidnapper/hijacker), and the victim is 'der/die Entführte' (the kidnapped person / hijacked person).
Der Entführer forderte ein hohes Lösegeld.
The kidnapper demanded a large ransom.
The object of the 'Entführung' is crucial for the meaning: the 'Entführung eines Menschen' (kidnapping of a person) is kidnapping. The 'Entführung eines Fahrzeugs' (hijacking of a vehicle), e.g. an airplane or ship, is hijacking.
Die Entführung des Geschäftsmannes dauerte drei Wochen.
The kidnapping of the businessman lasted three weeks.
Common verbs used with 'Entführung' are 'eine Entführung planen' (to plan a kidnapping/hijacking), 'eine Entführung verhindern' (to prevent a kidnapping/hijacking), or 'Opfer einer Entführung werden' (to become the victim of a kidnapping/hijacking).
Er wurde zum Glück nicht Opfer der Entführung.
Fortunately, he did not become a victim of the kidnapping.
human trafficking
'Entführung' and 'Menschenhandel' both refer to serious crimes against people and can involve violence or coercion. 'Entführung' means that a person is taken to another place or held against their will. The word can also be used for the violent takeover of an airplane or ship. 'Menschenhandel', on the other hand, means that people are recruited, transported, or held in order to exploit them, for example through forced labor. The words can be confused because people are often controlled against their will in both cases. The important difference is: 'Entführung' emphasizes taking someone away or holding them, while 'Menschenhandel' emphasizes exploitation.
Nach der Entführung suchte die Polizei sofort nach dem vermissten Kind.
After the kidnapping, the police immediately searched for the missing child.
Die Organisation informiert Jugendliche darüber, wie Menschenhandel verhindert werden kann.
The organization informs young people about how human trafficking can be prevented.