mi capitán
/mi kapitan/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'my captain' is mi capitán.
mi capitán is a literal translation of 'my captain' used to address a person holding the rank of captain. However, in many Spanish-speaking military or maritime contexts, it is more common to address a superior simply as capitán without the possessive 'mi'.
Which one should you use?
While mi capitán is a direct translation, other naval ranks exist such as comandante (commander) and almirante (admiral).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on gender and number. Use mi capitana when addressing a female captain, and use mis capitanes to refer to multiple captains, as both the possessive adjective and the noun must be pluralized.
Did you know?
- If you want to tease a superior or show playful affection, you might hear the diminutive mi capitancito. This transforms the formal rank into a more casual, often ironic, term of endearment.
- The word capitán shares the same root as the English word 'capital' and 'chapter' because they all derive from the Latin caput, meaning 'head'.
- The word capitana is not strictly limited to the sea or the army. It can also be used to designate the female leader of a traditional civic guild or a specific social organization.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, mi capitán. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?Good morning, my captain. How can I assist you?
- Permiso, mi capitana. ¿Puedo hacerle una pregunta?Excuse me, my captain. May I ask you a question?
- Sí, mi capitán, procederé de inmediato.Yes, my captain, I will proceed immediately.
- ¿Qué órdenes tiene para mí, mi capitán?What orders do you have for me, my captain?
- Todo está listo, mi capitán.Everything is ready, my captain.
Example conversation
A sailor reports to his superior on a ship.
- Mateo¿Cuál es la ruta, mi capitán?What is the route, my captain?
- MaríaVamos hacia el norte, Mateo.We are heading north, Mateo.
- MateoEntendido, mi capitán.Understood, my captain.
- MaríaVuelve a tu puesto, por favor.Return to your post, please.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries capitán, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
