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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
CBS News, 21 June 2024
Princess Kate is the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards, which is presenting its flag this year.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 15 June 2024
But a colonel dismissed these concerns, according to emails obtained by the New York Times.
—Eric Levitz, Vox, 3 June 2024
Belgian colonels were encouraged to bring back human remains to provide evidence for racial superiority.
—Koba Ryckewaert, New York Times, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for colonel 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'colonel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near colonel
Cite this Entry
“Colonel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonel. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
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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