festgenommen

The German word "festgenommen" is a past participle of the verb "festnehmen", which means "to arrest" or "to take into custody".

• fest means "firm" or "secure".
• nehmen means "to take".

So, "festnehmen" literally means "to take firmly," referring to apprehending someone.

Similar words:

• verhaften – to arrest (more formal/legal context)
• festhalten – to hold on to (less about arrest, more about physically holding)
• in Gewahrsam nehmen – to take into custody

Difference:

• festnehmen and verhaften both mean "to arrest," but verhaften is more formal/legal and often used in official contexts, whereas festnehmen can be used more generally (even by police when arresting).
• festhalten is more about physically holding, not arrest.
• in Gewahrsam nehmen is a phrase emphasizing custody rather than the act of arrest.

"festgenommen" thus specifically refers to a person having been arrested or taken into custody.