French word

colonel

Pronunciation

IPA/kolonɛl/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncolonel

Example

Hier, nous avons rencontré le colonel.

Yesterday, we met the colonel.

Illustration for colonel (colonel)

More examples

Le colonel en personne a assisté à la cérémonie.

The colonel himself attended the ceremony.

Core concept

A high-ranking military officer gathers a regiment under one command during operations.

Common phrases

  • le colonel en personne

    the colonel himself

  • ancien colonel

    former colonel

Similar words

officier: An officer serving in a military or police organization with command or management duties.
général: A senior military commander responsible for large formations or extensive operations.
capitaine: An officer of intermediate rank who leads a relatively small military unit directly.
lieutenant: An officer who acts as a superior's deputy and may command a small military unit.

Definition in French

Titre militaire désignant un officier supérieur responsable d'une unité de terrain, souvent commandant un régiment.

Word origin

The French noun colonel was borrowed from Italian colonnello, which derives from colonna, the Italian word for a column or military formation.

Usage tips

  • Colonel is masculine in French, so the usual forms are un colonel and le colonel; the feminine form is colonelle.

Word lists with this word