How did the spelling and pronunciation of “colonel” get so far apart?

jebert · May 11, 2004, 1:03pm

Simple question. How did the spelling and pronunciation of “colonel” get so far apart?

jebert

RealityChuck · May 11, 2004, 1:14pm

According to the OED, it started out with two forms “coronel” and “colonelle,” both meaning the same thing. Eventually, the pronunciation came from the first form, and the spelling from the second. The OED mentions that “l” sounds sometimes turned into “r” sounds (thus the “coronel,” plus the fact that it was connected to “couronne,” – “crown”). It goes on to say that “coronel” was the dialect form (spoken by the soldiers) while “colonnel” was used by the more literate. The “colonel” form was the spelling, since the literate determined the spelling, but the soldiers continued to use “coronel” --> “kernel” and it became the expected pronunciation.

Standup_Karmic · May 11, 2004, 2:12pm

While we’re in the neighbourhood, why is it that the Queen’s english would have us Canadians pronounce “lieutenant” as “lef-tenant” while those south of the border opt for the apparently more accurate pronunciation of “loo-tenant”?

FatBaldGuy · May 11, 2004, 2:27pm

AFAIK the “lef-tenant” pronunciation is also used in the UK, and also in Australia, New Zealand and most of the (non-US) English speaking world. I don’t know where or when the difference in pronunciation came from.

Rex_Fenestrarum · May 11, 2004, 2:51pm

I don’t know either, but isn’t it pronounced “loo-tenant” in the Royal Navy (and possibly Marines) and “left-tenant” in the Royal Army and RAF?

Rex_Fenestrarum · May 11, 2004, 2:56pm

Answering my own question:

“The word is pronounced L’TENANT in the Royal Navy, LEFTENANT in the Army, and LOOTERNANT in the U.S. Navy.”

bibliophage · May 11, 2004, 2:56pm

Cecil Adams on Why is “colonel” pronounced “kernel”?

kabbes · May 11, 2004, 3:26pm

One possible solution to the “lieutenant” query is if the word comes from the Greek. “eu” (or, more accurately, [symbol]eu[/symbol]) is pronounced “ef” in Greek. When it was transliterated, it may well have been written as it looked whilst pronounced as it sounded.

Acsenray · May 11, 2004, 3:54pm

“LOOTERNANT”? … I dont think so.

This page says:

The word is pronounced loo-tenant in American English and usually lef-tenant in British English although this is only correct with respect to the British Army. The Royal Navy traditionally pronounced the word as l’tenant which is a closer anglicised approximation of the original French. In Canada, lef-tenant is standard for all branches of the Armed Forces and for other usages such as lieutenant governor. The British pronunciation is prevalent during 14th and 15th centuries with the word being variously spelled as lieftenant, lyeftenant or luftenant. It may have originated from a mistaken reading of the ‘u’ as a ‘v’. Lev-tenant eventually becoming lef-tenant. It has also been speculated that it may have come from a fanciful etymology which associated it with the verb ‘to leave’, as the lieutenant only took up his duties once his superior officer had ‘left’.

This [Australian source](www.navy.gov.au/reserves/historyDocuments/ Lieutenant_or_Leftenant.doc) also offers similar thoughs.

Acsenray · May 11, 2004, 4:12pm

“LOOTERNANT”? … I dont think so.

This page says:

The word is pronounced loo-tenant in American English and usually lef-tenant in British English although this is only correct with respect to the British Army. The Royal Navy traditionally pronounced the word as l’tenant which is a closer anglicised approximation of the original French. In Canada, lef-tenant is standard for all branches of the Armed Forces and for other usages such as lieutenant governor. The British pronunciation is prevalent during 14th and 15th centuries with the word being variously spelled as lieftenant, lyeftenant or luftenant. It may have originated from a mistaken reading of the ‘u’ as a ‘v’. Lev-tenant eventually becoming lef-tenant. It has also been speculated that it may have come from a fanciful etymology which associated it with the verb ‘to leave’, as the lieutenant only took up his duties once his superior officer had ‘left’.

This [Australian source](www.navy.gov.au/reserves/historyDocuments/ Lieutenant_or_Leftenant.doc) also offers similar thoughs.