Inklingo

How to Say "colonel" in Spanish

The Spanish word forcolonelis coronelB2 level.

English → SpanishB2
NounB2
military rank
A storybook illustration of a high-ranking military officer, a man with a stern expression, wearing a formal green uniform with prominent gold shoulder insignia and a peaked cap.

Examples

El coronel dio la orden de avanzar.

The colonel gave the order to advance.

Mi abuelo fue coronel en el ejército.

My grandfather was a colonel in the army.

El famoso Coronel Sanders fundó la cadena de restaurantes.

The famous Colonel Sanders founded the restaurant chain.

Always a Masculine Noun

'Coronel' is a masculine noun, so you always use masculine words like 'el' or 'un' with it. For example, 'el coronel' (the colonel) or 'un coronel' (a colonel).

Referring to a Female Colonel

To talk about a female colonel, the most common way is to use the feminine article 'la' but keep the noun the same: 'la coronel'. The word 'coronela' also exists but is less common in official contexts.

Pronunciation Stress

Mistake:Saying 'CO-ro-nel', with the stress on the first part.

Correction: The stress should be on the final syllable: 'co-ro-NEL'. It has a 'da-da-DUM' rhythm.

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