Learn How to Pronounce colonel
Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!
Find your word:
Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!
How to pronounce:
colonel
Definition:
(nou) a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈkɜːnəl
Examples:
He left the Army the following year with the rank of colonel.
He enlisted in the army in 1942, eventually retiring with the rank of colonel.
He reached the rank of colonel before retiring from the Army.
Learn more about:colonel
Related Words:
How to perfect your pronunciation of: colonel
Learn Individual Sounds
Break colonel down into individual sounds such as ˈkɜːnəl. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.
Copy Others
Use the tools above to find out how different people say colonel in their accents, then try to repeat after them.
Pick an Accent
Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.
Record Yourself
Say colonel in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with colonel.
Get a Native Tutor
Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.
Common mistakes of colonel pronunciation
- Mispronouncing "colonel" as "koh-luh-nel": This common error stems from the spelling, leading to the mispronunciation /ˈkoʊ.lə.nəl/ (US) or /ˈkɒ.lə.nəl/ (UK). Tip: Remember that "colonel" is pronounced /ˈkɜrnəl/ in both variants, with a silent "o".
- Overemphasizing the "o": Some learners stress the "o" in "colonel," saying /ˈkoʊ.lə.nəl/. This is incorrect as the "o" is silent. Tip: Focus on the "k" sound and the "er" sound instead.
- Forgetting the "r" sound: A frequent mistake is omitting the "r" in "colonel," leading to a pronunciation like /ˈkɒlənəl/. This misses the correct /ˈkɜrnəl/. Tip: Practice saying the "er" clearly to maintain the correct sound.
- Confusing vowel sounds: Some may pronounce "colonel" with a long "o," such as /ˈkoʊ.lə.nəl/. This is incorrect due to the presence of the "r." Tip: Use the short "u" sound in the second syllable to avoid confusion.
- Ignoring syllable stress: Incorrectly stressing the second syllable, as in /kəˈloʊ.nəl/, is a common mistake. The correct stress is on the first syllable. Tip: Emphasize the initial "ker" sound to get it right.