* The word's origin: "Colonel" comes from the French word "colonel," which itself comes from the Italian "colonello." In these original languages, the "l" was pronounced clearly.
* English pronunciation shift: When the word entered English, the pronunciation shifted. The "l" sound became silent in most English words ending in "-el." This is why we say "shovel" without an "l" sound.
* Why the "r" persists: This is where things get tricky. The "r" sound in "colonel" is a result of a phenomenon called "r-insertion" or "r-intrusion." This happens when a vowel sound is followed by a silent consonant, specifically in certain contexts.
* The sound of "r" in these contexts: The "r" sound in these cases doesn't actually come from the original word. It's a result of how the human vocal tract tends to transition between certain sounds.
In short, the "r" sound in "colonel" is a bit of a quirk of English pronunciation. It doesn't come from the original French or Italian word, but rather from a phenomenon that inserts the "r" sound in certain situations.