The spelling of the word "fortier" can be explained by its phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /fɔrtje/ in French, where the letter "r" is pronounced using the uvular trill sound instead of the common English "r" sound. The final "ier" ending reflects the masculine form of the suffix, which means "more" or "greater". Therefore, "fortier" means "more fortified" or "stronger" in French. The correct pronunciation and spelling of words are essential for proper communication.