The spelling of the word "holahan" can be tricky to decipher based on its pronunciation alone. In IPA phonetic transcription, this word would be spelled as /hɑləhæn/. The initial "h" sound is followed by an "a" sound, then an "l" sound, and a schwa sound. The final syllable starts with an "h" sound, followed by an "a" sound, and ends with an "n" sound. Despite its unusual spelling, "holahan" is a valid surname that may have Irish origins.