French word

capitaine

Pronunciation

IPA/kapitɛn/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncaptain

Example

Le capitaine de l'équipe a marqué un but.

The team captain scored a goal.

Illustration for capitaine (captain)

More examples

Le capitaine adjoint a pris la parole avant le match.

The vice-captain spoke before the match.

Core concept

One member stands at the front of a group, with authority to organize it and lead it through a task.

Common phrases

  • le capitaine adjoint

    vice-captain

  • porter le brassard de capitaine

    wear the captain's armband

  • le capitaine de l'équipe nationale

    national team captain

Similar words

chef: A person who coordinates a group and decides what it should do.
entraîneur: A person who teaches players during training and plans match strategy.
officier: A ranked military or police official who leads and oversees subordinates.
commandant: A person who directs a military force or vessel.

Definition in French

Titre ou fonction désignant un officier ou le responsable d'un groupe, comme le capitaine d'une équipe, d'un navire ou d'une unité militaire.

Word origin

Old French capitaine inherited the leadership sense of Late Latin capitaneus, which was built from caput, meaning "head."

Usage tips

  • In sports, capitaine normally means the team captain, while military and naval contexts give it a rank or command sense.

Word lists with this word