"detain sb" in German to detain sb. jdn. in Gewahrsam nehmen in Haft nehmen inhaftieren festsetzen jdn. aufhalten jdn. festhalten Detailed translations for "detain sb" to detain sb. 1. general to detain sb.(also: to take sb. in custody, to intern sb.) jdn. in Gewahrsam nehmen to detain sb.(also: to take sb. in custody) in Haft nehmen to detain sb.(also: to take sb. in custody) inhaftieren to detain sb.(also: to take sb. in custody, to appoint a time or place, to perpetuate) festsetzen{transitive verb} to detain sb.(also: to delay sb.) jdn. aufhalten{transitive verb} 2. in a place to detain sb.(also: to hold sb.) jdn. festhalten{transitive verb}