Why “Colonel” is Pronounced “Kernel”
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In this video:
Believe it or not, “colonel” was pronounced more or less the way it originally looked when it was introduced to English. The spelling changed over time to “colonel”, while the pronunciation stayed the same as it was before.
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Now that you know why Colonel is pronounced "kernel" check out this video and find out about William Thompson: The Original “Conman”:
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I gotta better question for you, Limey.... Why do you guys pronounce *"Lieutenant"* as _"LEFT-tenant"???_
I actively refuse to pronounce it as "Kernel". I always pronounce it as "Colonel".
HQDefault Funny thing is, somehow that makes you an ass...Pronounce the word right/wrong damn it!
I can't lol. Its so hard to say "colonel". Idk why lol. I always say "kernel"
Same
HQDefault But you’re wrong.
And what about lieutenant? 😄
I always did love American English it takes from other language, walks them into back alleys then proceeds to do unspeakable acts to them... nine seconds later a word is born.
@Arcamean so true. lol
LOL Funny. A lot of the differences, especially spelling with a U or not a U, like in color and colour, are due to good old American spite. When America was revolting against England, they wanted to separate themselves further by changing the spelling of some words so the spelling is more logical, curiously, they did keep some seemingly illogical spellings.
+Eric Scott Actually, the main reason for it was not the Revolution, but Noah Webster, who believed that Americans should have their own "language" (more accurately their own dialect), and thus believed that words should be spelled more or less the same as they are pronounced. The U in words like color/colour is not pronounced, and so it got axed, among other things (like no ME in program/programme).
During the Revolution, there were nearly as many Loyalists who wanted to remain with Britain as there were Patriots. The split was about a third in favor of independence, a third in favor of staying, and a third who were either neutral or changed sided depending on circumstances (hence why we consider Benedict Arnold a traitor.) In fact, one reason why the US didn't adopt the metric system when it was first introduced in the 1790s is because many people still felt a sense of loyalty to Britain and therefore did not want to give up the imperial units. Thomas Jefferson, one of America's most famous Francophiles, pushed for it but never succeeded.
9 seconds and a new word is born? hmm
I wonder where they got that from?? You still pronounce blood with a u sound, right... idiot?
why the hell don't we just pronounce it colonel tho? it sounds berret than calling someone corn
Lmao 😂
Perfect video length.
So "Colonel" is functionally a visual representation or symbol for the word pronounced "kernel" at this point.
well unless you are speaking of the heart of an OS.
Yes, it's basically a hieroglyph.
Colonel is just one of those words thats been through so much change and adapting though the period of time that at this point the pronunciation and spelling just doesnt make sense anymore.
Personally i pronounce it "Column-el"
The English language, everyone.
Kial ne indas disvastigi ĝin.
Yeah one reason to either get rid of it or fully anglicize it
Ghoti
Huh, simple question, quick, simple, fun answer! I really liked this one! Maybe you could have something like a quick question segment once a week or so.
+Micah Philson Hmm, I like the idea. It might be tricky to organise, but I'll see how things are looking in the upcoming schedule, and see what might work.
or do a British English versus American English show.
Do one for Lieutenant (and why British pronounce it Leftenant"). Americans pronounce it Loo-Tenant. (One who lives in the restroom?)
Yes. This.
lestrange No its leeu-tenant
lestrange it's because they are left as tenant in lieu of a captain. It's French vs English. Americans were pro French so they use lieutenant
As I understand it, it came about as a result of the words lief and lieu meaning the same thing, except that lief died out.
Also leftenant? Not even close to how its spelled
Simon looks so different now.
I always read it as CALL-IN-OL and I read Stephen as STE-FIN
Colonel.
i'm tryin' to sneak around.
You look like an Oblivion wood elf
you are my everything Simon whistler
Thank for this simple answer. As a native french Canadian, I thought I was pronouncing Kernel , because a didnt know how to pronounce Colonel. Well I've been right and wrong all along ( Confusing since Colonel in french in pronounce (Ko-Low-Nel)
Lebeau says Colonel phonetically
I'm here watching this in 2022 and seeing Simon without a beard likw I'm so used to gave me whiplash from the double take.
English is LONG overdue for a spelling overhaul... especially considering that it has become a worldwide Lingua Franca, it needs to be simplified for second language acquisition. Fortunately, English grammar is fairly simple, as English is an analytical language that lacks case and gender distinction as well as the complex verb conjugation that's found in most languages, but its spelling is a mess. English based pidgins and creoles usually have straightforward spelling, it would be wise to adopt one of those systems (for example: Tok Pisin, which is pronounced like it's spelled, come from the words "talk" and "Pidgin" and it's an official language in Papua New Guinea).
My favorite example of how silly English spells its words is the "ghoti" as "fish" joke (the "gh" from laugh, "o" from women, and "ti" from nation = fish).
God damn is different seeing Simon without glasses and goatee
Whoah... Simon WITHOUT his LEGENDary beard 😳...
Holy Shit! Simon Whistler without a Beard !!
Whoa, I didn't recognize Simon at first. Keep the beard mate!
Love this one! Simon - "The Mispronouncer" - Whistler doing a video on pronunciation!
I'm 16... i live in America... I've been saying Cah- low- nell my entire life and no one has ever bothered to correct me... i feel so dumb😂
Thank the Gods you grew out the beard and added the glasses.
Colonel Sun thanks you!
I just remember how "Le Beau" addressed Colonel Hogan on the "Hogan's Heroes" TV show. It was something like "Co-ro-nel."
Who tf is this dude?! Simon! You’re so smooth looking! 😂😂
Seriously though, thanks for the info!
Henson Shaving advertiser must have got replaced with Keeps in the last 8 years. 🤪
I can’t say colonel and up until a few weeks ago I just realized it’s pronounced “kernel” when I was trying to pronounce colonel, I would say kululul or something similar, felt better when i realized it’s pronounced kernel lmao
It is disconcerting to see and hear baby Simon in 2022, lol.
As a non-native english speaker, I've always thought there's something wrong with my hearing when I've heard people say colonel in movies. I read the substitles, it says "colonel", but I keep hearing something else. I can't even pronounce the "kenrl". Thank you for explaining that you anglos are off with that one, not me or my hearing.
Johnny Sins is that you
Holy hell young Simon pre blaze
It still crazy
I am going to pronounce it Colonel and you can't stop me !
Imagine this word coming up in a spelling bee contest!
His eyebros said ⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️
If a colonels name was spelled kernel, then people should call him kernel kernel
Me: mom can we have Johnny sins?
Mom: no honey we have Johnny sins at home
*Johnny sins at home:*
As a matter of fact, I have wondered about that.
I liked this video and thanks. Good explanation of how an L becomes an R.
Also, have you considered doing auctioneering? I think you easily...with a considerable margin...speak fast enough for that.
I just read what the letter sounds so colonel
Thank you for the video So is it wrong to call colonel?
Look at that fresh faced clean shaven Simon
I refuse to say kernel or koronel. Everyone pretends not to know what I'm saying. 😁
I DID NOT recognize you without your glasses 😱
This dude looks like johnny sins with a skinny body
Well that explains the Spanish "Coronel" as well.
Okay so…as a newer watcher of Simon’s stuff, I thought this random clean shaven guy saying “I’m Simon Whistler” was a joke.
Colonel sounds way cooler though.
remember that part in fremminick trials where you had to drink nonalcoholic beer to win the contest
Colonel panic
Now explain why the US pronounces "lieutenant" as "loo-tenant" and the UK pronounces it as "lef-tenant".
+Kyle Stamps Interesting, I was just digging into this now, and a lot of the information is just people speculating in forums. Wikipedia has a little to say on the matter: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant#Pronunciation
and both of the pronunciations are 'wrong'.
+Today I Found Out Something else to look into: my American dictionary claims that the British Army says "leftenant," while the Royal Navy says "lootenant." Is this actually true?
Idk, it's li-ju-tenant for me...
Today I Found Out cause british people are dumb and like inserting random letters into pronunciations
colonel ive heard some peopme pronounce it colonial sanders
Its always weird to see him without a facehair. :]
The love-hate relationship I have with English language…
And here I thought the Frenchers pronounced it Kolo nell.
And I thought the pronounciation was changed because of KFC...
Can you do a video about why corps is pronounced as core. I think Brits pronounce it as corpse but Americans say core. Why?
+George Moore Good one. We'll look into it and see if the answer is interesting enough to do a video on. If nothing else, maybe a quick fact if there isn't much there. :-)
thanks :)
You could have several such words and talk about them together. Corps, Lieutenant, and I'm sure there's more.
Heya! It's because it's an appropriation from the French "corps" meaning "body". And in French we often don't pronounce word ending consonants so that it's actually pronounced "cor". And in britain I've only ever heard the "cor" pronounciation for what it's worth ;)
In India it's pronounced "corpse" or more literally, "cawps" (with the a having a bit of an 'au' sound). I never realized that it was pronounced differently in American and British English, especially since India follows British English!
I pronunce it like "Cole-nul".
@Today I found out I was wondering if you would do a video on restless leg syndrome and why it happens?
I thought it was because colonels wanted to sound more like generals.
So the US arbitrarily follows the French pressure on English with colonel, but not lieutenant?
Please do "lieutenant" now, thanks.
Omg I always said kernal
Holy shit you're so young!
your whole face moves when you talk
I'm just learning that colonel is the same as kernel....
I always thought they were different ranks
I am none the wiser.
+Riotlight Well, watch the video and he explains? Wtf?
You realize that says more about you than it does him, right?
***** Lol, why aren't you arguing with me??? Grrrrrrr.
(I agree he was quite confusing although I did get it)
Carry on.
Lottie Says You're an ass. Get sarcasm for once in your life. Ya dullard...
The most interesting or weird pronunciation of "Colonel" is the inclusion of "R" .
This bothered me. For years. I thought that there is something wrong with me- like I was the only one in whole world to recognize, that spelling and pronunciation doesn''t match. Thank you.
I wonder why I'm uncomfortable watching beardless Simon Whistler
Drace Race S11E4 brought me here
Where can I find the “spelling god?” 🙏🏼😂
Why do people in the UK pronounce lieutenant with an F in it? (leftenant)
+First Cynic Short answer: "Lieutenant" and "Leftenant" began as variant spellings and pronunciations of the same word. Then one of the spellings dropped out of fashion...together with the _other_ pronunciation. Result: A mismatch.
+Armens Peas
The rest of the world here meaning "Britain and prior British territories"?
+Kyle Stamps Not Britain's fault they conquered most of the world xD
Abi Robins
Yeah, it pretty much is...
Right. Or, rather, left. 😎
Me who pronounces it [ko.ɾo.nɛl]:
Interesting, I pronounce it almost the same as it is in Medieval French.
What is Johnny Sins doing here
Johnny sins
I'm American and idk why tf we pronounce it like this. I honestly thought it was spelled "Kernel" for a while and "Colonel" was some other word that was pronounced with an L sound.
0:25 You don't pronounce the G sound in Italian words like that one.
You've really got to teach Simon Italian phonology.
No, i will call it ko lo nel
That's not an explanation! What happened to the "r?" 😕
I always pronounce it "Kernal"
Am I wrong or is it technically right????
Co-lo-nel
Y is there a k in knight and know
Because the pronunciation changed but the spelling didn't.
kole in old
That's English for you.
What I'd love to know is why Brits pronounce "Lieutenant" as "Leftenant".....
Fine, but why do the English pronounce Lieutenant as if it contains an "f" sound. There is no "F, "ph or gh in the word.
Also who to ph and gh produce an "F" sound?
Maybe to avoid seeming like a guy who has rented himself a restroom?
who are you to say that lieutenants don't rent restrooms? where else are they to do their business?
yea like laugh. It should be lougg.
Language in error..
Who the hell have compiled it..
Really frustrating for learners...
He is same as Jonny sins🙂
In Afrikaans colonel is pronounced colonel.
And that's a different language.
Also it is Coronel in portuguese.
I never imagined you pronounce it Kernel in english.
High iq
I've always pronounced it as it's written Ko-llon-el
You are looks like Jonny sins....I'm too confused 😂
BUT WHY???? I learned nothing
Why is kunel pronounced kunel?! You mean why is cawlinell pronounced kernel?
SLOW DOWN
In Spanish it is spelled coronel
And pronounced as it looks but with a trilled r
*spelt not 'spelled'
Wait! Is nobody going to address this?! The hell did I just watch? Quick recap:
Why is it pronounced 'ker-nul'? Because it kind of used to, but kind of not, but because now it is. Ok! Well I hope you enjoyed this video.......
It used to be spelled more like "kernel" in English. The English spelling changed to "colonel" to be closer to the Italian spelling, while the English pronunciation stayed the same as it had been before this change.