How to pronounce lieutenant
Say it like loo-TEN-unt. Lieutenant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
- loo
- TEN
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'loo-TEN-unt'; the British army form is 'lef-TEN-unt'.
Lieutenant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- looKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of lieutenant
American and British speakers say lieutenant in essentially the same way: /luˈtɛnənt/ in the US and /lɛfˈtɛnənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: lef-TEN-unt.
What does lieutenant mean?
- In the US Army, Air Force and Marines, holding the rank above second lieutenant and below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as "lieutenant" or as the complete forms of the ranks.
- A naval officer whose rank is above that of ensign in the United States Navy and below that of a lieutenant commander. There are two ranks of lieutenant: lieutenant junior grade and lieutenant.
- A commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard, Public Health Service, or National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration whose rank is above that of ensign and below lieutenant commander. There are two ranks of lieutenant: lieutenant junior grade and lieutenant.
- A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel, lieutenant general, lieutenant commander.
Where does lieutenant come from?
From Middle English lieutenant, lieftenaunt, from Anglo-Norman lieutenant, lyutenaunt, leu tenant, leu tenaunt (“deputy, lieutenant”), from Old French lieu (“place”) + tenant (“holder”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- lieut
- police lieutenant
- deputy
Words that rhyme with lieutenant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lieutenant.
Questions about saying lieutenant
How do you pronounce lieutenant?
Say loo-TEN-unt. The American pronunciation is /luˈtɛnənt/. In British English it is /lɛfˈtɛnənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lieutenant?
Lieutenant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: loo · TEN · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say lieutenant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /luˈtɛnənt/ and the British form is /lɛfˈtɛnənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.