The spelling of the word "fowkes" can be explained using the IPA phonetic transcription. In this transcription, the word is spelled /faʊks/. The first syllable, "fow," is pronounced with a diphthong /faʊ/, which is a combination of the sounds "ow" and "ah." The second syllable, "kes," is pronounced with a short /kɛ/ sound, like the word "pet." Together, these sounds create the word "fowkes," which is a variation of the surname "Folks."