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English colonel is pronounced the same as kernel. This seems odd, but there is an explanation. In many languages when a word contains two identical or similar sounds, one of these sounds will often change over a period of time. This kind of change is called dissimilation. So when the Italian word colonello was taken into French, it became coronel; and the word was borrowed by the English from the French in this form. Later the spelling colonel came to be used in order to reflect the Italian origin of the word. But by then the pronunciation with r was well established.
Examples of colonel in a Sentence
Rona Berg, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The parade will conclude with a royal salute and march past where Kate will take the salute as colonel.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Pat Boone sang, and the colonel was buried in his white suit.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
In my mind, that person was perhaps 12 years old, because regardless of the assuredly advanced age of any nephew of a World War II colonel, 12 is the age my imagination conjures for nephews.
—Kevin Chroust, Outside Online, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colonel
Cite this Entry
“Colonel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonel. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
an altered form of earlier coronel "colonel," from early French coronel (same meaning), from early Italian colonnello "colonel, column of soldiers," derived from Latin columna "column" — related to column
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