How many syllables are in “colonel”?

“Colonel” has 2 syllables: KUR-nuhl.

What is the IPA for “colonel”?

The American English IPA transcription of “colonel” is ˈkɝnəl.

How can I practice pronouncing “colonel”?

Press play to hear “colonel” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

American English pronunciation

How to pronounce colonel

/ˈkɝnəl/KUR-nuhl2 syllables

“colonel” is one of those English words that looks nothing like it sounds. It's 2 syllables (KUR-nuhl), and the trick is in the sounds below — hear it, then say it back and let our AI model show you how close you landed.

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The sounds to nail

/ɝ / ɚ/as in nurse
The American rhotic vowel. Curl tongue tip up and back without touching the roof.
/l/as in love
Tongue tip at gum ridge. At the end of a syllable ('feel'), the tongue body also pulls back — the dark L.

Trickier for some first languages

The sounds in “colonel” are common stumbling blocks for speakers of:

Russian speakers →Chinese speakers →

Common questions

How many syllables are in “colonel”?: “Colonel” has 2 syllables: KUR-nuhl.
What is the IPA for “colonel”?: The American English IPA transcription of “colonel” is ˈkɝnəl.
How can I practice pronouncing “colonel”?: Press play to hear “colonel” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

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