The spelling of the word "countee" is phonetically represented as /kaʊnti/. The first syllable "coun" sounds like "cow" with an "n" at the end, while the second syllable "tee" sounds like the letter "t". This particular spelling of the word may have originated from the name "Countee", which is a rare male given name of West African origin. However, it is most commonly seen as a surname, particularly in the African American community.