The spelling of the word "cunniff" can be explained through International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. The pronunciation of this word is /ˈkʌnɪf/. The sound /k/ represents the letter "c," while the sound /ʌ/ represents the letter "u." The double "n" is indicated by the lengthened sound of /n/ followed by the sound of /ɪ/, representing the letter "i." Finally, the sound of /f/ represents the letter "f" at the end of the word. Despite its unique spelling, the IPA transcription helps to break down the sounds within the word.