Learn How to Pronounce lieutenant
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How to pronounce:
lieutenant
Definition:
(nou) a commissioned military officer (nou) an officer in a police force (nou) an assistant with power to act when his superior is absent (nou) an officer holding a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant commander and above lieutenant junior grade
Examples:
Gurunathan was a lieutenant of the notorious brigand Veerappan.
He had the rank of the junior lieutenant.
Into the breach stepped the outgoing lieutenant governor.
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Common mistakes of lieutenant pronunciation
- Incorrect vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "lieutenant" with a long "u" sound, as in "lieu." In US English, it's pronounced /luˈtɛnənt/, while in UK English, it's /lɛfˈtɛnənt/. Tip: Focus on the short "e" sound in the second syllable.
- Stress misplacement: A common mistake is placing stress incorrectly on the first syllable instead of the second. In US English, the stress falls on the second syllable: /luˈtɛnənt/. Tip: Practice saying "ten" louder to help with stress placement.
- Silent letters confusion: Some learners may struggle with the silent "u" in "lieutenant." In both US and UK pronunciations, the "u" is not pronounced. Tip: Break the word into parts: "lieu" and "tenant," focusing on the sounds you hear.
- Overemphasis on "lie": People sometimes overly stress the "lie" part, making it sound longer than necessary. The correct pronunciation in both variants is smoother. Tip: Say "lieutenant" quickly to avoid lingering on "lie."
- Adding extra syllables: Some may mistakenly add an extra syllable, pronouncing it as "lieu-ten-ant." The correct forms are /luˈtɛnənt/ in US and /lɛfˈtɛnənt/ in UK English. Tip: Remember it's two syllables: "lu-ten."