Captain or Captian
Learn why “Captain” is the correct spelling and why “Captian” is incorrect.
Captian
Incorrect spelling - “Captian” is a misspelling caused by reversing vowels ‘a’ and ‘i.’
"Captian" is a common misspelling of "Captain". Always use "Captain" when referring to the correct word.
Captain
Correct spelling - The proper way to spell this word.
“Captain” means a leader of a team, ship, or unit.
Definition of Captain
"Captain": “Captain” means a leader of a team, ship, or unit.
This word is commonly used in everyday conversation and writing.
Synonyms for Captain
- • leader
- • commander
- • chief
Usage Examples
"Correct:" He is the captain of the team.
"Correct:" The ship’s captain greeted the passengers.
"Correct:" She became captain of her squad.
"Correct:" The captain gave clear instructions.
"Incorrect:" He is the captian of the team.
"Incorrect:" The captian arrived.
"Incorrect:" She is the squad captian.
"Incorrect:" The captian gave orders.
Notes:
- • Vowel order is A before I.
- • Never spell it as captian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Correct spelling?
A: Captain.
Q: Why do people write captian?
A: They reverse the vowels accidentally.
Q: Meaning of captain?
A: A leader of a team or ship.
Q: Trick to remember?
A: CAP + TAIN (sounds like “cap-tane”).
Summary
“Captain” is correct; “captian” is a vowel-reversal spelling error.