Soldiers (american English in army)

[sympathy]

Well I often watch American films to learn English.
I have one question: in the army, I notice that when a private understands clearly the order of an officer, he will shout something. He means "I got it, sir." But I couldn't make out what he says. The pronunciation is close to "eye-eye, sir"
What does the private actually say ?

[Jamie (K)]

He is saying, "Aye-aye, sir!"

"Aye" is an archaic word for "yes". It is centuries old, surely older than the United States. We use it in the military, and when voting in a meeting.

When people vote in a meeting, the person presiding will call out, "All those in favor say aye," and the people who want to vote "yes" say, "Aye!" Then the presider says, "All those opposed say nay," and people voting "no" say, "Nay!" If the people who vote yes are in the majority, the presider says, "The ayes have it." If the people who disapprove are in the majority, the presider says, "The nays have it."

I believe that "aye" and "nay" are also still used in Great Britain for some purposes.

[sympathy]

Aye-aye, Jamie!

Thanks for helping me. Thank you very much.

[sympathy]

Could you tell me more about the order in the army: turn left, turn right, cheer, lift up the gun ... ?
Once, I watched Mr Bean, and there was a sergeant who ordered his men to turn left, turn right, salute ...
But his voice was so raucous that I couldn't even make out the pronunciation.
Can you help me? Thanks.

[sympathy]

Anyone ??????????

[Yankee]

Hi Sympathy

You mentioned that you were watching a Mr. Bean movie, so I would assume that it was a British sergeant who was barking orders to British soldiers.

In the US Army, to order soldiers to turn left, I would expect to hear "Left face!" and to tell them to turn right, "Right face!"

I have no idea what "cheer" was supposed to mean in the context of a sergeant giving orders. Maybe it was supposed to be a joke -- after all, Mr Bean is quite fond of making silly jokes.

Sorry, I've never been in the army, so I guess you'll have to hope someone else knows more than I do.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[sympathy]

Thanks, Yankee.

[michauek]

Soldiers say also " Roger that" when they talk on short-wave radio which means "Understood".
By the way, does British speakers say "roger!" when they mean "OK" ??
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absens carens
Michal. I'm an english student