Why do the British say Zed? In Royal Naval (RN) traditionand other English-speaking navies outside the United Statesa reduced pronunciation /ltnnt/ (listen) is used. Why is the French word lieutenant pronounced leggy instead of lieutenant? It is pronounced in the old-fashioned English way, /ref/, so that it rhymes with safe and waif. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It is spelled 'lieutenant' and it is pronounced as 'leftenant'. In the army it is pronounced as leftenant, but in navy they use lootenant. Some parts of the British Army, including the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and fusilier regiments, used first lieutenant as well as second lieutenant until the end of the 19th century, and some British Army regiments still preserve cornet as an official alternative to second lieutenant. Assistant Superintendent(Bangladesh Police), Assistant Superintendent(Indian Police Service), Police Lieutenant(Philippine National Police), Police Lieutenant(National Police of Ukraine), US Police 2nd Lieutenant(Police ranks of the United States), US Police 1st Lieutenant(Police ranks of the United States), In the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the rank of lieutenant (LTA) is the second-lowest commissioned rank. Leftenant is the U.K. and Commonwealth . No one is going to get offended by someone saying frick. Weve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or havent managed to get the point across? This was because the rank was bestowed upon the commander of a column of troops. No one can really say why in the British Army the word is pronounced left-tenant but its notable that in the Royal Navy the pronunciation seems half way across the ocean. The rank insignia of CLT is a pip and a bar below it. A lieutenant (UK: /lftnnt/ lef-TEN-nt, US: /lutnnt/ loo-TEN-nt;[1] abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. These are surely not the only words that aren't spelled the way they're pronounced. These were typically newly commissioned officers for which no authorized second lieutenant position existed. How is Lieutenant pronounced in Canada? Something may be bloody marvellous or bloody awful. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland performed the function of viceroy in Ireland. Is Taco Bell healthier than other fast food? How do I enable in-stream ads on Facebook? The British pronunciation of the French word lieutenant (as lef-tenant) is the official pronunciation as used by the Canadian Armed Forces, but the American pronunciation of loo-tenant (which is closer to the original French pronunciation) is sometimes heard outside of the military. Why do Brits pronounce Lieutenant as leftenant? One word in particular that stands out in English dialects is the word we use for our mothers. Having said that, British people do sometimes use it when expressing anger. Privacy Policy. There's no need to delve into etymythology to try and fail to figure out the why. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. An example of an exception is the United States, whose armed forces distinguish their lieutenant ranks with a silver bar for first lieutenant and brass bar for second lieutenant. The word appeared in English as lieutenant, and an alternative leftenant was made to stick to the pronunciation. Over time the word locum evolved into the French word lieu, which is pronounced in French as it is spelled. As nouns the difference between lieutenant and leftenant. 'Lieutenant' comes from French lieu ('place') and tenant ('holding'). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the United States, it is pronounced / lutnnt/, whereas in British English its pronounced /lftnnt/. This is not recognised as current by recent editions of the OED (although the RN pronunciation was included in editions of OED up until the 1970s). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary shows both pronunciations. 1 Why do Americans pronounce lieutenant differently? Therefore, the term leftenant developed. The Oxford English Dictionary states the pronunciation is "difficult to explain ," but suggests the old French word originally had a "w" sound at the end of the first syllable, and that eventually got confused with an "f" or a "v" and created the British way of saying the word. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. La Reynie was the deputy for policing duties of the Provost of Paris, the ceremonial representative of the King in Paris. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often subdivided into senior (first lieutenant) and junior (second lieutenant and even third lieutenant) ranks. The usual role of a lieutenant is to carry out administrative duties and assist precinct commanders (normally a Captain, or sometimes the local police chiefs). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In the case of lieutenant even the English themselves dont agree. I always suspected--and I have never seen anything to back this up--that this pronunciation was adopted because "lootenant", as the Americans pronounce it, sounds like "Loo-tenant," i.e., "individual occupying the loo (toilet)." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 94-84", "i gradi dell'Esercito Italiano - distintivi di incarico e funzionali", " , ", " , ", "LOI N 96-029 portant Statut Gnral des Militaires", "2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armes du Mali", "Manual grfico para el uso de Uniformes, Divisas y Equipo del Ejrcito y F.A.M. The latter if you're British. What is the difference between a lieutenant and a lieu? The rank of cadet lieutenant (CLT) is given to officer cadet trainees who have passed their officer's course. Learn about the etymology of Lieutenant as well as Colonel.. In the United Kingdom, a lord lieutenant is the sovereign's representative in a county or lieutenancy area, while a deputy lieutenant is one of the lord lieutenant's deputies. Leaders, or officers of the Boys' Brigade, particularly in the United Kingdom, are ranked as lieutenants after having completed their formal training, before which they are ranked as warrant officers. Notice words like March (Marche) to walk), Salute (Salut)greeting), beret, reveille (to get up), soldier, morale just for starters are all French words that are used daily in the military. Why do Canadians say lieutenant? When your question is answered, we encourage you to flair your post. "Lieu" means place and "tenant" means holding. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Lieutenant literally means place-holding, or the one who is left in place of the true authority; thus, the one who is left tenant (holding) the authority. [2] In the US however, the word is pronounced as 'Lew-tenant', much to British distaste. The emergence of the pronunciation /ref/ seems clearly connected with the Great Vowel Shift, since it is around this time that people in Southern and Central England start interchangeably spelling their names both Ralph and Rafe. Linguists explain that the f is a relic of the countrys British imperial history, while the alternate pronunciation comes from the U.S. Which routine is best for gaining muscle? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Although lieutenants are no longer numbered by seniority, the post of "first lieutenant" remains. Even later, when the Americans cuddled up to the French during the revolutionary war, their pronunciation changed to follow the french term. It is roughly equivalent to an inspector in the British and Canadian police forces. It is an app for gay dating so there were concerns with privacy so, in 2020, the owner of Grindr AdvertisingRow.com - Home of online Advertising Inspiration & Ideas, AdvertisingRow.com | Home of Advertising Professionals, Advertising news, Infographics, Job offers. In the 17th century, the term "lieutenant" corresponded to "deputy" (i.e. . The Israel Defense Forces rank segen () literally translates as "deputy", which is equivalent to a lieutenant. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. [3] The majority of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century sources show pronunciations with /v/ or /f/, but Bullokar has /liu/.[4]. How Many Classes The Article Are Divided Into In English? The British and others pronounce z, zed, owing to the origin of the letter z, the Greek letter Zeta. The British pronunciation of the French word "lieutenant" (as "lef-tenant") is the official pronunciation as used by the Canadian Armed Forces, but the American pronunciation of "loo-tenant" (which is closer to the original French pronunciation) is sometimes heard outside of the military. Lieutenant may also appear as part of a title used in various other organisations with a codified command structure. 1 : an official who acts for a higher official. Historically, the "lieutenant" was the deputy to a "captain", and as the rank structure of armies began to formalise, this came to mean that a captain commanded a company and had several lieutenants, each commanding a platoon. The Lieutenant Governor is an official in state governments of 45 out of 50 United States. Think of LanguageTool as the colonel of all text editors. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. So a Lieutenant is someone who holds a place or functions as a deputy of a superior. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Confusion sometimes arises because, in the U.S., the word is routinely said "lootenant" (or sometimes "lyootenant"), while in the United Kingdom and other countries of the British Commonwealth the preferred pronunciation is "leftenant." Its thought that zee was last used in England during the late 17th century; however, usage is difficult to trace, because pronunciations for letters were not often written down. Some areas of Britain say darbee, some say derbee. Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. In smaller ships with only a single deck division, the billet is typically filled by an ensign while in larger ships with a deck department, consisting of multiple subordinate divisions, the billet may be filled by a lieutenant commander. It does not store any personal data. In smaller police departments, they may command a precinct itself. Glossophilia..just love its diversity and humour ! What Does Crossing The Burning Sands Mean? Zero is a little bit longer to pronounce, hence the oh. Don Draper is a grammar nerd Be still, our writerly hearts. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In the British Army and in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, a second lieutenant is the lowest ranking commissioned officer. This courtesy developed when swords were still used on the battle field. Some police departments split the rank of lieutenant into two separate grades. In the Finnish military there is a senior lieutenant grade that ranks above lieutenant and second lieutenant but below captain; it does not have an English equivalent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I always suspected--and I have never seen anything to back this up--that this pronunciation was adopted because "lootenant", as the Americans pronounce it, sounds like "Loo-tenant," i.e., "individual occupying the loo (toilet)." Commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces, "Tenente" redirects here. Its pronounced like how Americans would say it. Why exactly do the British say lieutenant as 'leftenant'? So a Lieutenant is someone who "holds a place" or functions as a deputy of a superior. Is Bosnia a developing or developed country? Armchair linguists on both sides of the Atlantic offered up various answers and suggestions: here's a selection for your interest and entertainment . On submarines and smaller Coast Guard cutters the billet of first lieutenant may be filled by a petty officer. It is only capitalized when . [98] The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (founded 1871) had the rank of lieutenant between staff sergeant and inspector until 1997. How about left-renter? The rank is also used in fire services, emergency medical services, security services and police forces. Colonel has no R, although its pronounced with one, and lieutenant has what seems to be a random I in it. Armchairlinguists on both sides of the Atlantic offered up various answers and suggestions: heres a selection for your interest and entertainment , Because its the correct pronunciation. Nomad, London, England, The Brits are weird jon, cambria, United States, So we have the profound and highly informative answer from an American, he says: The Brits are weird. Colonel has no "R", although it's pronounced with one, and lieutenant has what seems to be a random "I" in it. He has dedicated his life to helping students achieve their full potential in the classroom and beyond. 18 3 Join ourAdvertisingCommunity and share you ideas today ! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Considering this, Why do British say aluminium? In the US however, the word is pronounced as 'Lew-tenant', much to British distaste. The post of first lieutenant in a shore establishment carries a similar responsibility to the first lieutenant of a capital ship. Lieutenant also has more than one abbreviation, and it varies based on the nation and military branch. Why is Colonel pronounced kernel? The lower ranked soldier on the left protected the senior officers left side. This gave rise to the Old French zede, which resulted in the English zed around the 15th century. That's how Americans pronounce it. mainly in war films and mainly refering to Americans). Aluminum = The British pronunciation is a tongue twister. "Leftenant" would then be easier to pronounce than "levtenant." hurricanelantern 9 yr. ago Officially we follow the British pronunciation for it in Canada, but plenty of people say it the American way. This courtesy developed when swords were still used on the battle field. In the mid-17th century, spelling it with L became the standard, but it was still pronounced with an R. This long and winding history of this word led to its unusual spelling and pronunciation. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. How do you spell luitenent? The lower ranked soldier on the "left" protected the senior officers left side. Why do Brits pronounce lieutenant as leftenant? Home University Of New Hampshire Why Do The British Say Leftenant? Just love its diversity of humour ! Not only do many English words contain silent letters, but there are also several rules and patterns that have numerous exceptions. Press J to jump to the feed. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Well thanks for that gem, Einstein. Its not that neatly divided. The British rank is "lieutenant" and is spelled the same as. When asked what hes looking for inland, he said Dar be treasure. So maybe they encouraged the alternate pronunciation to keep rank and file soldiers from making a joke of their superiors' title? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant#Pronunciation. What money is available for senior citizens? 3 : second lieutenant. To the man referencing Websters English dictionary, do yourself a favor and pick up an Oxford English Dictionary. By the mid-17th century, the spelling and French pronunciation had changed to colonnel. I know there are certain individuals who think c r a p is a swear word (even though it really isnt), but frick isnt a swear word by any sense of the meaning of swear word. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Why do Americans say zee? This is the reason why colonel is pronounced kernel. To the man referencing Websters English dictionary, do yourself a favor and pick up an Oxford English Dictionary. This pattern was copied by the United States Navy and various Air Forces for their equivalent ranks grades, except that the loop is removed (see flight lieutenant). Lieu means place and tenant means holding. In the United States, a governor serves as the chief executive officer and commander-in-chief in each of the fifty states and in the five permanently inhabited territories, functioning as both head of state and head of government therein. Lieutenant (Maldivian Marine Corps)[90]. LieutenantArabic: , romanized:Mulazim awwal(Algerian Land Forces)[6], Leytenant(Armenian Ground Forces)[9], LieutenantBengali: (Bangladesh Army)[13], Liejtenant(Belarusian Ground Forces)[14], Leytenant(Bulgarian Land Forces)[19], Lieutenant(Burkina Faso Ground Forces)[20], LieutenantKirundi: Riyetena(Burundi Ground Forces)[21], LieutenantFrench: Lieutenant(Canadian Army)[22], Lieutenant(Central African Ground Forces), Leitenanti(Georgian Land Forces)[34], LieutenantHindi: (Indian Army)[39], LieutenantIrish: Leifteanant(Irish Army)[40], Lieutenant(Ivory Coast Ground Forces)[42], Leytenant(Kazakh Ground Forces)[44], LieutenantNepali: , romanized:Upasnn(Nepali Army)[58], Leytenant(Russian Ground Forces)[67], Lejtenant(Tajik Ground Forces)[77], Lieutenant(Trinidad and Tobago Regiment)[80], Leytenant(Ukrainian Ground Forces)[83]. Thank the British for our language and New York, else we would be speaking Dutch in New Amsterdam (or however the Dutch spell it). , P.S. It is in the sense of a deputy that it has entered into the titles of more senior officers, lieutenant general and lieutenant colonel. This word means commissioned officer of high rank in the military. Simply by the way it looks, its easy to see why some people would think its pronounced co-lo-nel. In the Royal Navy, the commissioned rank of mate was created in 1840, and was renamed sub-lieutenant in 1860. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Colonel came to English from the mid-16th-century French word coronelle, meaning commander of a regiment, or column, of soldiers. Therefore, the term leftenant developed. Sounding it out may help, al-loo-MIN-ee-um Theres a second i in the British form of the word, aluminium, hence the extra syllable. Why do Brits pronounce lieutenant leftenant? Some sources claim that 'lieutenant' had alternative spellings such as leftenant, leftenaunt, lieftenant, lieftenaunt etc., and that the ModE pronunciation with /f/ (BrE mostly) is a holdover from those spellings.