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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Answer 1

“Colonel” came to English from the mid-16th-century French word “coronelle”, meaning commander of a regiment, or column, of soldiers. By the mid-17th century, the spelling and French pronunciation had changed to colonnel. The English spelling also changed, and the pronunciation was shortened to two syllables.

The French also took this word from the Italians. But when they added it to their language, they changed the word “colonnelo” to “coronel.” Language experts say this is because the French wanted to have the “r” sound in the word, instead of the two “l” sounds.

The spelling is French while the pronunciation is Italian. “coronel” was borrowed from French in the 1500s it was pronounced the same as it was written in French so English speakers pronounced it the French way.