detained / imprisoned
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detained
Describes the state of being in custody; being arrested by the police or judiciary and held in a prison or another detention facility.
Der Verdächtige bleibt bis zum Prozessbeginn inhaftiert.
The suspect remains detained until the start of the trial.
The word is the past participle of the verb 'inhaftieren' (to imprison/detain). This verb is made up of the preposition 'in' and the noun 'die Haft' (custody/imprisonment). 'Inhaftiert' (detained) therefore describes the state of being in custody.
Der Mann wurde wegen Diebstahls inhaftiert.
The man was imprisoned for theft.
'Inhaftiert' (detained) is almost always used predicatively with the verb 'sein' (to be) or in passive sentences with 'werden' (to become/be). Use directly before a noun, e.g. 'der inhaftierte Mann' (the detained man), is grammatically correct but less common.
Der Journalist ist seit zwei Jahren in einem fremden Land inhaftiert.
The journalist has been detained in a foreign country for two years.
This word belongs to formal language and is mainly used in official contexts, such as with the police, in court, or in the news.
Die Polizei teilte mit, dass der Verdächtige weiterhin inhaftiert bleibt.
The police stated that the suspect remains in custody.
arrested / attached
Both words describe a person whose freedom has been taken away by the police. Verhaftet focuses more on the process and the state after the arrest, while inhaftiert emphasizes the continued stay in a detention facility. Use verhaftet for the arrest and inhaftiert for the person’s continued detention.
Der Angeklagte blieb bis zum Prozess inhaftiert.
The defendant remained detained until the trial.
Die Polizei hat den Verdächtigen gestern Abend verhaftet.
The police arrested the suspect yesterday evening.
