The word "McDaniels" is spelled as /məkˈdæniəlz/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is represented by the reduced vowel schwa /ə/. The second syllable starts with the voiceless velar stop /k/, followed by the vowel /æ/ as in "cat". The third syllable is pronounced with the alveolar nasal consonant /n/ and the vowel /i/ as in "bit". The final syllable starts with the alveolar lateral approximant /l/, followed by the voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/ as in "vision". Together, these sounds create the word "McDaniels".
The word "McDaniels" is a surname of Scottish origin. It is patronymic in nature, derived from the given name "Daniel" with the prefix "Mc" or "Mac", meaning "son of". Therefore, "McDaniels" translates to "son of Daniel". In Scottish and Irish cultures, it was common to use these patronymic surnames to identify individuals by their family lineage.