HOW TO PRONOUNCE
lieutenant
/luˈtɛnənt/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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In American English, begin with loo.
In American English, lieutenant is loo-TEN-unt, with no f sound. Give TEN the main stress.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 2
TRY SAYING
“The lieutenant addressed the crew.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does lieutenant mean?
noun
- 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.
More meanings (7)
noun
- A commissioned officer in the British Army and Royal Marines, holding the rank above second lieutenant and below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as "lieutenant"; however, "second lieutenant" is to specify that the officer is not yet a full lieutenant.
- A naval officer whose rank is above that of sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy and below that of a lieutenant commander.
- A naval commissioned officer who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
- A person who manages or executes the plans and directives of another, more senior person; a manager to their director.
- The second-in-command (2IC) of a group.
- Alternative letter-case form of lieutenant (when used as a title before a name)
adjective
- A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel, lieutenant general, lieutenant commander.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/luˈtɛnənt/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The lieutenant pricked the ship’s course regularly on the chart, so I could always tell exactly the route of the Nautilus.
Between him and the lieutenant, scolding and near to losing his mind with rage, there was felt a subtle fellowship and equality.
More book examples (3)
The marshal frequently came on board to arrest him, but was always prevented by the address of the first lieutenant, Mr. Wallis.
A young lieutenant at the Academy and his fiancée were seen by an old maid at the hotel to kiss each other.
As she was finishing it for the third time, Lieutenant Théodule passed the gate once more, and rattled his spurs upon the pavement.