The spelling of the word "crowest" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /ˈkroʊ.ɪst/ with the stress on the first syllable. The "c" is pronounced as the letter "k", while the "ow" diphthong is pronounced as the sound in "go". The "e" in the middle is silent. Finally, the ending "-est" is pronounced with a short "i" sound and a "st" consonant cluster. The word "crowest" is an archaic form of the superlative adjective "cruel".