Why is colonel spelled that way when it sounds like kernel?

You're right! "Colonel" is spelled with a "c" and an "l," but sounds very similar to "kernel." This is due to a fascinating phenomenon in the history of the English language called metathesis.

Metathesis is a process where sounds within a word get swapped around. It's a common occurrence in language evolution, and it's the reason why we have words like "comfortable" and "uncomfortable" with their seemingly swapped "m" and "f" sounds.

The word "colonel" originated from the French word "colonel," which itself came from the Italian "colonello." The original pronunciation in these languages was likely closer to the spelling, with a more distinct "l" sound. However, in English, the pronunciation shifted over time, with the "l" sound moving to the beginning of the syllable and being pronounced more like "k" (similar to how "knife" was once pronounced "knyfe").

So, even though the spelling has remained consistent, the pronunciation has changed due to metathesis, leading to the confusion with "kernel."

Interestingly, the word "kernel" also underwent a similar change in pronunciation, but in the opposite direction. It once sounded like "kernal," with the "l" sound closer to the end.

This illustrates how language is constantly evolving, sometimes in unexpected ways, and can lead to these amusing linguistic quirks.