Why do Brits pronounce lieutenant as leftenant? - Profound-Advice Much of our modern alphabet comes directly from the Greek alphabet, including a letter, that looked just like our Z, that the Greeks called zeta. Zeta evolved into the French zede, which in turn gave us zed as English was shaped by Romance languages like French. The rank was used as the entry level officer rank for the Ordnance Department and the Corps of Artillery until March 1821. It is in the sense of a deputy that it has entered into the titles of more senior officers, lieutenant general and lieutenant colonel. Learn how to pronounce "lieutenant" in British English and American English. Later, when the drive by the English to rid the language of french words began, they modified the word to try to match their pronunciation and made it leftenant. The word arrived in English from French in 1375 and within 100 years the English were pronouncing it left-tenant as if there were a right-tenant as well. Lieutenants were commonly put in command of smaller vessels not warranting a commander or captain: such a lieutenant was called a "lieutenant commanding" or "lieutenant commandant" in the United States Navy, and a "lieutenant in command" or "lieutenant and commander" in the Royal Navy. Why and when did 'I will' replace 'I shall' in British English? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. 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. At the same time the term 'Leftenant' is sometimes used (albeit. Do the British say leftenant or lieutenant? The first L in the original Italian word colonello was changed to an R by the French. Why is Colonel pronounced kernel? Why do Canadians say lieutenant? 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.
why is lieutenant pronounced leftenant