The spelling of the word "crotteau" is highly influenced by its French origins. The IPA phonetic transcription for "crotteau" is /kroʊˈtoʊ/. The word is pronounced "kroh-toh" with a silent "eau" at the end. The "cr" sound is pronounced like "kruh" with a rolled "r." It is important to note that the "au" ending in French often reflects an "oh" sound and plays a role in distinguishing it from other French words like "crotte" /krot/ which means "droppings" or "poop."