der  Leutnant

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlɔʏtnant/

🎖️ What does "der Leutnant" mean?

The German word der Leutnant refers to a military rank for officers in many armed forces. It is typically the lowest or one of the lowest commissioned officer ranks, equivalent to a Second Lieutenant or Lieutenant in many English-speaking countries.

The word (der Leutnant) denotes a male person holding this rank. The female form is die Leutnantin.

Historically, the term derives from the French 'lieu tenant', meaning "placeholder" – someone who holds (tenant) the place (lieu) of a higher-ranking officer.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar: Declension of Leutnant

The word "Leutnant" is a masculine noun and follows strong declension patterns.

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences

• Der junge Leutnant erhielt seinen ersten Befehl. (The young lieutenant received his first order.)
• Die Uniform des Leutnants war makellos. (The lieutenant's uniform was impeccable.)
• Der Soldat salutierte vor dem Leutnant. (The soldier saluted the lieutenant.)
• Sie beförderten ihn zum Leutnant. (They promoted him to lieutenant.)
• Mehrere Leutnante besprachen die Lage. (Several lieutenants discussed the situation.)

📌 Usage in Context

The term Leutnant is primarily used in a military context. It denotes a specific rank within the officer career path.

• Military: In the German Bundeswehr, der Leutnant is the lowest officer rank. There are also higher ranks like Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant).
• Historical: The rank has a long tradition in European armies.
• Figurative: Rarely, it might be used metaphorically for a subordinate or deputy in a hierarchy, but this is uncommon.

In civilian language, the word is infrequent unless discussing or writing about military topics.

🧠 Mnemonics for Leutnant

Article Mnemonic: Think: Der Mann, der Offizier (the officer), der Leutnant – military ranks for men are often masculine in German.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of "Leute" (people) + "nant" (from tenant = holding/representing). Der Leutnant is the one who (representatively) leads people or holds a post. Or link it to the English 'lieutenant' - it sounds similar and has the same origin.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: While related, don't assume 'Leutnant' is always a perfect 1:1 equivalent to 'Lieutenant' in all contexts; exact rank structures vary by country.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der General den Leutnant: "Leutnant, wie ist die Moral der Truppe?"
Antwortet der Leutnant: "Gut, Herr General! Sie fragen jeden Morgen nach Ihnen!"

Translation:
The General asks the Lieutenant: "Lieutenant, how is the morale of the troops?"
The Lieutenant replies: "Good, Sir! They ask about you every morning!" (Implying they wish he wasn't there)

✒️ A Short Poem

Der Leutnant jung, mit ernstem Blick,
führt seine Männer ins Gefecht zurück.
Ein erster Stern auf seiner Brust,
voll Pflichtgefühl und ohne Frust.
Er lernt Befehl, Gehorsam, Mut,
im Dienst fürs Land, mit heißem Blut.

Translation:
The lieutenant young, with a serious gaze,
leads his men back into the fray.
A first star upon his chest,
full of duty and without unrest.
He learns command, obedience, bravery,
in service for the country, fervently.

❓ Riddle

Ich trage Uniform und einen Stern,
befehle gern, hör auch mal gern.
Bin Offizier, doch noch recht klein,
wer könnte das wohl sein?

Translation:
I wear a uniform and a star,
I like to command, and listen near or far.
I'm an officer, but still quite low,
Who could I be, do you know?

Solution: Der Leutnant (The Lieutenant)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Word Origin: As mentioned, it comes from French 'lieu tenant' ("placeholder", "deputy").
• Variations: There are various compound ranks like Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant, a higher rank) or Leutnant zur See (Lieutenant at Sea, Navy rank).
• NATO Rank Code: The typical NATO rank code for a Leutnant is OF-1.