The spelling of the word "bellew" may cause some confusion for readers unfamiliar with its pronunciation, which is /ˈbɛluː/. The letter "e" in "bellew" is silent and serves only to elongate the vowel sound of the preceding "l" and its schwa sound. The word itself refers to a type of traditional Irish drum, also known as a bodhrán. The spelling of "bellew" has remained unchanged over time, despite its irregular pronunciation.