Colonel is a military rank pronounced as if it were two syllables: /ˈkɜːrnl/ in US English and /ˈkɜːnl/ in British English, despite spelling suggesting “colonel.” It historically derives from the Italian colonello and entered English via French, evolving a distinctive pronunciation with a silent o and an internal consonant cluster. The word is often treated as a single stressed syllable in modern use, mainly in formal or ceremonial contexts.
Full pronunciation guide
