Which to use
“Leutnant” and “lieutenant” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #10,686
- “Leutnant” frequency rank
- #14,122
- “lieutenant” frequency rank
- 24808
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Leutnant | lieutenant |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Offiziersdienstgrad unter dem Oberleutnant, der untere Dienstgrad variiert nach Streitkraft | der Dienstgrad zwischen captain (Hauptmann) und second lieutenant (Unterleutnant); in den USA wird es auch first lieutenant genannt; der Leutnant, der Oberleutnant |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Leutnant and lieutenant apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Leutnant ([ˈlɔɪ̯tnant]) and lieutenant ([lɛfˈtɛnənt]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 2 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 24808, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Leutnant is recorded at frequency rank #10,686, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈlɔɪ̯tnant]. lieutenant is at rank #14,122, tagged as anoun, pronounced [lɛfˈtɛnənt].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 24808, this pair ranks #1,842,428 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Leutnant vs lieutenant
Shared letters: aelntu. Private to "Leutnant": -. Private to "lieutenant": i.
"Leutnant" · 8 letters · shape CVVCCVCC · "lieutenant" · 10 letters · shape CVVVCVCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
- Leutnant ← elutnant · letunant · leuntant · leutannt · leutnannt · leutnantt · leutnatn · leutnnant
- lieutenant ← ileutenant · leiutenant · lietuenant · lieuetnant · lieuteannt · lieutenannt · lieutenantt · lieutenatn
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Leutnant" and "lieutenant" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Leutnant" or "lieutenant"?
Remembering Leutnant vs lieutenant
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “Leutnant” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable