teniente
/teh-NYEN-teh/
lieutenant
A teniente in the context of a military or police rank, often translated as 'lieutenant'.
teniente(Noun)
lieutenant
?military or police rank
first lieutenant
?specific army rank
,sub-lieutenant
?specific naval rank
📝 In Action
El teniente dio la orden de avanzar.
B1The lieutenant gave the order to advance.
La teniente García es la oficial al mando.
B2Lieutenant García is the officer in command.
Fue ascendido a teniente después de tres años de servicio.
B2He was promoted to lieutenant after three years of service.
💡 Grammar Points
One Word for Men and Women
'Teniente' is a noun that works for both men and women. The only thing that changes is the small word in front: 'el teniente' for a man, and 'la teniente' for a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Feminine Form
Mistake: "La tenienta"
Correction: La teniente. The word itself doesn't change its ending for gender, which is common for many professions ending in '-e'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Abbreviation
In writing, you'll often see this abbreviated as 'Tte.'. For 'teniente coronel', it's often 'Tte. Cnel.'.
In formal titles, teniente can mean 'deputy' or 'substitute,' such as a teniente de alcalde (deputy mayor), symbolizing someone holding the place of authority.
teniente(Noun)
deputy
?someone acting in place of another
substitute
?a person holding a position for another
,assistant
?in a formal title
📝 In Action
El teniente de alcalde inauguró el nuevo parque.
C1The deputy mayor inaugurated the new park.
Actuó como teniente del director durante su ausencia.
C1He acted as the director's deputy during his absence.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remembering the Meaning
This meaning is very close to the word's origin. Think of 'lieu' (place) + 'tenant' (holding). A 'teniente' is someone 'holding the place' for a superior. This helps you remember both the 'deputy' and 'lieutenant' meanings!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: teniente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'teniente' to mean 'deputy'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'teniente' only for the army?
No, it's a rank used in many uniformed services, including the army ('ejército'), navy ('armada'), air force ('fuerza aérea'), and police forces ('policía'). The specific responsibilities can vary between them.
How do I say 'lieutenant' for a woman?
You say 'la teniente'. The word itself doesn't change, just the little word 'el' or 'la' before it. This is common for many job titles in Spanish that end with the letter '-e'.