The word "ketter" is an example of a rare word with a unique spelling. Phonetically, it is transcribed as /ˈkɛtər/. The first syllable "ket" is pronounced with a short "e" sound as in "let" and a hard "k" sound as in "key". The second syllable "ter" is pronounced with a short "e" sound as in "let" and a soft "t" sound as in "pet". The spelling of this word reflects its origins from Old English and Middle English, where "ketter" meant "a chained animal or captive".