The word "KUS" is spelled with three letters, k, u, and s. Its phonetic transcription is /kʌs/. The first sound, /k/, is a voiceless velar plosive formed by closing the back of the mouth and releasing air. The second sound, /ʌ/, is an open-mid back unrounded vowel pronounced with the jaw open and the tongue slightly back. The final sound, /s/, is a voiceless alveolar sibilant made by pushing air through a narrow opening between the tongue and the upper teeth.