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How do you spell Colonel?

Correct spelling

colonel

Pronounced kernel but spelled COLONEL. From Italian.

Why is colonel spelled this way?

From Italian colonnello, commander of a column. COLONNA (column). The word was borrowed twice — once from Italian (giving the spelling) and once from French (giving the pronunciation 'kernel'). They collided into one bizarre word.

Common misspellings of colonel

kernalcolonlecornelcolonal

Example

The colonel led the regiment.

Frequently asked questions

How do you spell colonel?+
The correct spelling is "colonel". Pronounced kernel but spelled COLONEL. From Italian.
Is it kernal or colonel?+
The correct spelling is "colonel", not "kernal". This word gets 10,000+ monthly searches.

Other commonly misspelled words

dissolve distinction distinguish distribute

More spelling guides

emaciated emancipate embankment embarrass

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