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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
Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2023
During a shake-up in the department in 2021, Worley, then a colonel, moved from chief of patrol to head of its Criminal Investigations Division.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2023
Thu’s father had been a colonel in the Vietnamese army.
—Katie C Reilly, ELLE, 27 July 2023
Turley's case appears to have been poorly handled, said Don Christensen, the former top prosecutor for the Air Force and a retired colonel.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
Erica Ingram, the first Black female colonel in the Arkansas National Guard in 215 years is now part of the academy board.
—Paige Eichkorn, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2023
However, Walton also faulted the conduct of military judge Jeffrey Nance, then an Army colonel.
—Spencer S. Hsu and Alex Horton, Anchorage Daily News, 28 July 2023
Duckworth lifted her hold about two weeks later after Vindman was promoted to full colonel.
—Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, 25 July 2023
During a major shake-up in department ranks in 2021, Worley, then a colonel, moved from chief of patrol to taking over the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
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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.
Word History
Phrases Containing colonel
Dictionary Entries Near colonel
Cite this Entry
“Colonel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonel. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on colonel
Nglish: Translation of colonel for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of colonel for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about colonel
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