how the rank “colonel” is pronounced “kernel” despite having any R’s? Is there history with this word that transcends its spelling?

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In: 414

Answer 1

The word “colonel” is actually derived from the Italian word “colonello,” which was spelled and pronounced with an “r.” When the word was borrowed into English, the spelling was changed to reflect the French “coronel,” but the original Italian pronunciation with the “r” sound was retained. Over time, the pronunciation of the word in English evolved to its current form, “kernel,” while the spelling remained unchanged.