Why do Brits pronounce lieutenant as leftenant?

According to military customs, a lower ranking soldier walks on the left side of a senior officer. This courtesy developed when swords were still used on the battle field. The lower ranked soldier on the “left” protected the senior officers left side. Therefore, the term leftenant developed.

Do the British say leftenant or lieutenant?

A Lieutenant (a leader of a platoon) is pronounced ‘Left-tenant’ in the U.K. (as he/she is left the tenancy of command). In the US however, the word is pronounced as ‘Lew-tenant’, much to British distaste. Leftenant is the U.K. and Commonwealth pronunciation. USA pronunciation of the same rank is LOOtenant.

What’s the difference between a lieutenant and a leftenant?

As nouns the difference between lieutenant and leftenant is that lieutenant is (military) the lowest commissioned officer rank or ranks in many military forces while leftenant is an archaic spelling of lieutenant.

How do you say lieutenant in UK?

While Americans (and possibly others) pronounce this as “loo-tenant”, folks from the UK pronounce it as “lef-tenant”.

How does the Royal Navy pronounce lieutenant?

le-tenant
No one can really say why in the British Army the word is pronounced “left-tenant” but it’s notable that in the Royal Navy the pronunciation seems half way across the ocean. They drop the “f” and say “le-tenant.”

How do the British spell lieutenant?

From Latin then, lieutenant literally means “place holder” and the military lieutenant acts on behalf of—or in place of—their commanding officer. No one can really say why in the British Army the word is pronounced “left-tenant” but it’s notable that in the Royal Navy the pronunciation seems half way across the ocean.

What rank is a British leftenant?

Lieutenant (UK: /lɛfˈtɛnənt/; Lt) is a junior officer rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above second lieutenant and below captain and has a NATO ranking code of OF-1 and it is the senior subaltern rank.

How do you pronounce lieutenant in the Royal Navy?

No one can really say why in the British Army the word is pronounced “left-tenant” but it’s notable that in the Royal Navy the pronunciation seems half way across the ocean. They drop the “f” and say “le-tenant.”

Why is lieutenant pronounced?

It’s believed that at some time before the 19th century, the British read and pronounced the “U” at the end of “lieu” as a “V” and the “V” later became an “F”. This may explain why we in Singapore and most other Commonwealth countries pronounce “Lieutenant” as “lef-tenant”, while Americans pronounce it as it is spelt.