This is the 13507th most frequent Spanish word.
rehén
"Rehén" means "hostage" in English.
In this sentence, 'rehén' is used to denote a person captured by someone to secure the fulfillment of a condition by others, commonly used in contexts involving criminal acts or negotiations.
El ladrón tomó a un rehén para escapar.
The thief took a hostage in order to escape.
Here, 'rehén' continues to represent the individual being held captive, but the focus of the sentence is on the efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.
Los negociadores intentaban liberar al rehén sin violencia.
The negotiators tried to free the hostage without violence.
In this example, 'rehén' is used metaphorically to express being constrained or at the mercy of one's own choices, showcasing its figurative application in language.