The spelling of the word "hefti" may seem confusing at first glance, but it can be easily explained through IPA phonetic transcription. The word is pronounced /ˈhɛfti/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "e" in the first syllable is pronounced as /ɛ/, which is the short "e" sound. The second syllable contains the consonant cluster "ft", which is pronounced as /ft/. The final "i" is pronounced as /i/, which is the long "e" sound. With its unique phonetic makeup, "hefti" proves to be a curious word in the English language.