The spelling of the word "Flannagan" can be confusing due to the various sounds it combines. In IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), it can be transcribed as /flænəɡən/. The first syllable is pronounced like "flan" with a short "a" sound, followed by a schwa sound. The second syllable has a hard "g" sound and an unstressed schwa. The final syllable has a long "a" sound, also known as an open "a". The combination of these sounds can make the correct spelling difficult to determine at first glance.