How do you pronounce "colonel"?

The word "colonel" can be confusing to say out loud, even for native English speakers. At first glance, you'd expect it to sound like "KO-LOH-NEL," but it doesn't. Not even close. Here's what you should know.

The right way to say "colonel"

A colonel is a senior officer in the army, air force, or marines. Despite the spelling, the word sounds exactly like "kernel," as in a kernel of corn: KER-nul. The first "l" turns into an "r" sound, and the "o"s disappear.

• She works directly with a colonel at the base.
• The colonel wants to see you in his office.
• The colonel flew the jet through the storm.

Why such a strange spelling?

The word came into English from French in the 1500s, and back then it was spelled "coronel," with an "r." That's where today's pronunciation comes from. Over the next century, the spelling was changed to "colonel" to match the original Italian word, colonnello. The new spelling stuck, but people kept saying it the old way. So the "r" sound survived, even though there's no "r" left in the word.

Here are a few more sentences to practice saying it out loud:

• The colonel's speech motivated the troops.
• Colonel Sanders of KFC never earned his title in the military. It was an honorary title from the state of Kentucky. (Yup, you can catch more details in the video below!)
• The colonel scanned the field through his binoculars.

Next time you see "colonel" in a history book or hear it in a war movie, you won't be thrown off by its unexpected pronunciation.

Want more English tips like this one? Take a look at Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs.