The word "kenneally" is spelled as /kəˈniːli/ in IPA phonetic transcription. This surname is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname O' Cionnaith, pronounced as /oːˈkʲin̪ˠə/. The spelling was later changed to Kenneally, which reflects the phonetic pronunciation in English. The letter "c" is pronounced as /k/ and the double "n" represents a nasal sound. The final "y" denotes a diminutive or endearment suffix, likely added to the name over time.