lieutenant
[loo-TEN-unt (US) or lef-TEN-unt (UK)]
nounmasculine/feminine (depends on person)pl: lieutenants
tenente
1. A commissioned military officer ranking below a captain
The lieutenant commanded the platoon with precision.
O tenente comandava o pelotão com precisão.
2. A deputy or subordinate officer in a police or fire department
The fire department lieutenant supervised the crew.
O tenente do corpo de bombeiros supervisionava a equipe.
3. A person who acts as a substitute or deputy for someone of higher rank
He served as the lieutenant to the mayor.
Ele serviu como tenente do prefeito.
In Brazil, 'tenente' is a crucial rank in both the military (Exército Brasileiro) and police forces (Polícia Militar). The rank structure follows a hierarchical military tradition. In the USA, the distinction between 'first lieutenant' and 'second lieutenant' is important, with the former ranking higher. The rank has historical significance in Brazilian culture, with notable military figures like Tenente Carlos Prestes in the 1920s.
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →