The spelling of the word "Colbert" is unique in its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled as /koʊlbɛrt/. The "o" in the beginning is pronounced as a long "o" sound, like in the word "go." The "l" and "b" sounds are pronounced together, making it difficult to hear the "l" sound distinctly. The "e" and "r" sounds are pronounced separately at the end of the word. Overall, the unusual combination of sounds makes the spelling of "Colbert" stand out.
Colbert refers to a family name that originated in France and is commonly used as a surname. As a dictionary entry, the pronunciation of "colbert" is kohl-BEHR.
1. (Noun) Colbert: a French family name originating from the personal name "Colobert", which was derived from the older given name "Colobertus". The name "Colobertus" can be traced back to the Germanic elements "col", meaning "coal" or "swarthy", and "berht", meaning "bright" or "famous". The combination of these elements signifies an individual who is renowned or distinguished for their dark physical features.
2. (Noun) Colbert: a surname associated with prominent historical figures, such as Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619–1683). Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a powerful French minister and economist during the reign of Louis XIV. He is known for his influential role in restructuring and improving France's economy through policies like mercantilism.
3. (Noun) Colbert: occasionally used to refer to comedian, writer, and television host Stephen Colbert. Best known for hosting satirical news programs such as "The Colbert Report" and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", Stephen Colbert has gained recognition for his sharp wit, political commentary, and comedic performances.
4. (Noun) Colbert: sometimes used colloquially to refer to television shows or comedy sketches that mimic or satirize news and current events, in the same style as Stephen Colbert's satirical news-reporting programs.
Note: The dictionary definitions provided are general and may not encompass all possible meanings or uses of the word "colbert".
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "colbert" is derived from the French surname "Colbert". This surname is most famously associated with Jean-Baptiste Colbert, an influential French statesman and economist who served as the Minister of Finances under King Louis XIV in the 17th century. Due to his significant contributions to French economic and administrative reforms, his surname became associated with competence, intelligence, and astuteness. Over time, the term "colbert" has been used in French to refer to a person who is knowledgeable, shrewd, or skilled in a particular field. In English, the word "colbert" is sometimes used as a noun to describe someone with these qualities, although it is not as commonly known as its French counterpart.