The word "benote" refers to a musical note that is flattened by a half-step. Its spelling can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /bɛˈnoʊt/, with the first syllable pronounced as "beh" and the second syllable pronounced as "note" with a long "o" sound. The "e" at the end of "benote" signifies the past tense, indicating that the note has been flattened. This term is commonly used in music theory and is essential for understanding and playing various types of music.