The word "Colist" is spelled with a /k/ sound rather than a /c/ sound at the beginning because it is derived from the Greek word "κόλαστρον" (kólastron). This is represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /kɒlɪst/. The spelling of the word Colist is essential to its accurate pronunciation because the wrong initial sound can change the word's meaning entirely. Colist is a term used in material science to describe a type of metal coating used for corrosion protection.