teniente

Teniente is a military and police rank used in many Spanish-speaking countries. It denotes a commissioned officer and is part of the junior officer tier. In most systems, it sits above segundo teniente (second lieutenant) and below capitán (captain). Some militaries also organize this tier with further subdivisions, such as primer teniente (first lieutenant) and segundo teniente, while others use a simpler progression of segundo teniente → teniente → capitán.

Roles and duties vary by country and branch. In the army and air force, a teniente typically serves as the commander of a platoon or as a staff officer at company level, depending on local tradition and structure. In the navy, the equivalent rank is often called teniente de navío and corresponds to a naval lieutenant with duties on ships, shore installations, or staff roles. In police and internal security forces, teniente is a supervisory rank, frequently responsible for overseeing precincts, units, or investigative teams and acting as a bridge between non-commissioned officers and higher command.

Insignia and insignia placement also vary by country and service branch. Commonly, lieutenant ranks are represented by bars, stripes, or pips on uniforms, with variations that distinguish subtypes such as primer teniente or segundo teniente. Colors and designs reflect national military traditions and the service branch.

Etymology: The term derives from the Latin tenēre “to hold,” via Old Spanish teniente, literally reflecting the officer’s command responsibilities.

See also: Lieutenant (military), Primer teniente, Segundo teniente, Capitan.