The spelling of the word "cannonite" is based on its pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈkænənaɪt/. This word is made up of the root word "cannon" and the suffix "-ite." The "cannon" part of the word is pronounced with a short "a" sound, represented by the IPA symbol /æ/. The "-ite" suffix is pronounced with a long "i" sound, represented by the IPA symbol /aɪ/. Together, they make the unique spelling and pronunciation of the word "cannonite."