This is the 1857th most frequent Portuguese word.
reféns
"Reféns" means "hostages" in English.
In this sentence, 'reféns' is used to refer to individuals held captive by someone, showcasing its meaning of 'hostages'.
Os reféns foram libertados após longas negociações.
The hostages were released after long negotiations.
Here, 'reféns' is used metaphorically to describe being controlled or limited by insecurities, demonstrating its figurative application.
O medo os tornou reféns de suas próprias inseguranças.
Fear made them hostages of their own insecurities.
In this context, 'reféns' metaphorically describes individuals feeling powerless or dominated by external factors like political choices.