Captian vs. Captain — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on April 1, 2024
"Captian" is a common misspelling of "Captain." Captain refers to a person in command, especially of a ship or aircraft.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Captian or Captain
How to spell Captain?
Captian
Incorrect Spelling
Captain
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of the word "nation." Remove "natio" from "captian" to get the correct spelling "captain."
Remember, "cap-TAIN," like the captain retains or holds the command.
In "captain," the "I" stands before the "A," just as a captain stands before his crew.
The "captain" is always at the "ai"rport. Use "ai" for the correct sequence.
Use the phrase "Captain sails on the sea," and note the "ai" sequence in sails and captain.
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How Do You Spell Captain Correctly?
Incorrect: The captian of the football team was injured during the game.
Correct: The captain of the football team was injured during the game.
Incorrect: He was promoted to the rank of captian last year.
Correct: He was promoted to the rank of captain last year.
Incorrect: She served as the captian of the ship for over a decade.
Correct: She served as the captain of the ship for over a decade.
Incorrect: The captian led his team to victory in the final match.
Correct: The captain led his team to victory in the final match.
Incorrect: Their captian devised a brilliant strategy to win the game.
Correct: Their captain devised a brilliant strategy to win the game.
Captain Definitions
A person who commands and controls.
The ship's captain navigated through the storm.
An officer ranking above a lieutenant.
The captain received a commendation for his service.
An honorific title given for certain jobs.
Captain Smith is the pilot for today's flight.
Someone showing mastery or leadership in a particular area.
He's a captain of industry.
The officer in command of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.
A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief.
The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above first lieutenant and below major.
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above commander and below rear admiral.
A figure in the forefront; a leader
A captain of industry.
A district official for a political party.
A restaurant employee who is in charge of the waiters and usually attends to table seating.
A bell captain.
To act as captain of; command or direct
Captained the football team.
A chief or leader.
The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.
An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.
A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to a United States Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.
One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.
The leader of a group of workers.
John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."
The head boy of a school.
A maître d', a headwaiter.
(southern US) An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.
(intransitive) To act as captain
(transitive) To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.
A head, or chief officer
A trainband captain eke was he.
The Rhodian captain, relying on . . . the lightness of his vessel, passed, in open day, through all the guards.
A military leader; a warrior.
Foremost captain of his time.
To act as captain of; to lead.
Men who captained or accompanied the exodus from existing forms.
Chief; superior.
Captain jewes in the carcanet.
An officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
The naval officer in command of a military ship
A policeman in charge of a precinct
An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
The leader of a group of people;
A captain of industry
The pilot ins charge of an airship
A diningroom attendant who is in charge of the waiters and the seating of customers
Be the captain of a sports team
The leader of a team or organization.
She was named captain of the basketball team.
Captain Meaning in a Sentence
In many stories, the pirate captain is portrayed as a fearless leader.
The team captain motivates and leads the players during a match.
The captain of the aircraft ensures the safety of all passengers.
The captain received an award for his exemplary leadership during the mission.
A ship's captain is responsible for the vessel and everyone on board.
Becoming captain of the chess team was a significant achievement for him.
The captain of the science club led the members in winning the state competition.
As captain, he had to make tough decisions to navigate through the storm.
The captain of the debate team prepared her members for the national competition.
Her role as captain of the dance team included choreographing routines and selecting music.
The captain ensured that all safety protocols were followed before departure.
His leadership skills were recognized when he was named captain of the volunteer group.
Historically, the captain would lead his soldiers from the front in battle.
In many cultures, the captain is seen as a symbol of authority and respect.
The captain of the yacht club organized regattas and sailing lessons for members.
The captain of the rescue team coordinated the efforts to find the lost hikers.
The captain always participated in the community's events to encourage team spirit.
She aspired to be the captain of her college basketball team.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Captain?
It originates from the Latin word "caput," meaning "head" or "leader."
What is the verb form of Captain?
To captain.
Which vowel is used before Captain?
Context-dependent. E.g., "A captain," "The captain."
What is the singular form of Captain?
Captain.
What is the plural form of Captain?
Captains.
Which conjunction is used with Captain?
Conjunction use is context-dependent and not specific to the word "captain."
Which article is used with Captain?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on the context.
Is Captain an adverb?
No.
Is Captain an abstract noun?
No.
What is the root word of Captain?
"Caput" from Latin, meaning "head."
Is Captain a noun or adjective?
Noun.
What is the pronunciation of Captain?
"KAP-tuhn."
Is Captain a collective noun?
No.
Is the Captain term a metaphor?
It can be, as in "captain of industry."
What is a stressed syllable in Captain?
The first syllable, "Cap."
What is the first form of Captain?
Captain (as a verb: captain).
Which preposition is used with Captain?
Context-dependent. E.g., "of the captain," "by the captain."
Is Captain a countable noun?
Yes.
Is the word Captain is imperative?
No.
How many syllables are in Captain?
Two.
How do we divide Captain into syllables?
Cap-tain.
What is the opposite of Captain?
Subordinate or crew member.
Which determiner is used with Captain?
Depends on the context. Examples include "the," "a," "my," "his."
Is the word Captain is Gerund?
No.
Is the word “Captain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either, depending on the sentence structure.
What is another term for Captain?
Skipper.
How is Captain used in a sentence?
"The captain steered the ship safely into the harbor."
Is Captain a negative or positive word?
Neutral; context determines its positivity or negativity.
Is Captain a vowel or consonant?
Consonant (refers to the initial letter "C").
What part of speech is Captain?
Noun.
What is the second form of Captain?
Captain (as a verb: captained).
What is the third form of Captain?
Captain (as a verb: captained).
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.