Why is “colonel” pronounced like “kernel”?

Colonel is one of those English words that seems determined to catch learners out. It is written with an l in the middle, yet in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɜː.nəl/, much like kernel. So where did the r sound come from?

The short answer

English borrowed an older French form of the word: coronel. That version contained the r sound we still use today. The spelling was later changed to colonel, reflecting the word’s Italian origins, but the established pronunciation survived.

English therefore kept two different pieces of the word’s history: one in its spelling and another in its pronunciation.

How do you pronounce colonel?

Say kernel. The two words are pronounced alike, although their meanings and histories are different.

Example: The colonel spoke to the soldiers.

A useful memory trick is: The colonel ate a kernel of corn. It is a slightly ridiculous sentence, which often makes it easier to remember.

Waarom klinkt colonel als “kernel”?

Het Engels nam vroeger de Franse vorm coronel over. In die vorm zat de r-klank die we nog steeds horen. Later veranderde de spelling in colonel, onder invloed van de Italiaanse oorsprong van het woord. De uitspraak veranderde echter niet mee.

Kort gezegd: de spelling veranderde, maar de oudere uitspraak bleef bestaan.

Try it yourself

Read this sentence aloud: The colonel found a kernel of corn. Did colonel and kernel sound the same?

Language-history source: Merriam-Webster. Featured photograph by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.