The spelling of "Mariopaz" may seem unusual, but it follows the rules of English phonetics. The IPA transcription for the word is /mæriːoʊpæz/. The initial syllable, "mar," is pronounced with a long "a" sound, while the second syllable, "io," is pronounced with a long "e" sound. The final syllable, "paz," is pronounced with a short "a" sound, as in the word "cat." Altogether, the word "Mariopaz" is spelled based on the sounds of its individual syllables.