The correct spelling of the word "lathem" is actually "lathem." This is a bit of a unique spelling, as the word is typically spelled as "lathe" in standard English. However, in some regional dialects, including some variations of American English, the "-em" ending is added to words that end in "-e" for emphasis. The IPA phonetic transcription for "lathem" is /ˈleɪðəm/, indicating that the pronunciation of the word includes a long "A" sound, a "th" sound, and the addition of the "em" ending.