The spelling of the word "appelbaum" in English is not phonetic. It is pronounced /ˈæpəlbɔːm/ (ap-uhl-bahm) in IPA phonetic transcription. The "p" and "b" sounds are often confused, making the spelling difficult. In Yiddish, the word "applebaum" is spelled אַפּלבוים and pronounced /aˈpləbɔjm/ (ahp-luh-boym). Despite the differences in spelling, both pronunciations refer to a surname meaning "apple tree" in Germanic languages.
The word "Appelbaum" is of German and Jewish origin. In German, "apfel" means apple, and "baum" means tree. Therefore, the literal translation of "Appelbaum" is "apple tree". It is a common surname among Jewish individuals, especially of Ashkenazi descent.