The spelling of the word "ankrom" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first letter "a" is pronounced as a short "æ," like the "a" in "cat." The second syllable begins with the letter "n," pronounced as a nasal "n" sound. The third syllable is comprised of the letter "k" and the sound "r," which is pronounced with the back of the tongue touching the soft palate. The final syllable is pronounced with a short "o" sound and the letter "m," forming the word "ankrom."