The word "McMahan" is a common surname, but its spelling can be a bit tricky. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet, we can break it down into /məkˈmæhən/. The "Mc" prefix is pronounced as "mək" and represents the Gaelic or Irish patronymic form for "son of." The "Ma" is a schwa sound and the "h" is silent, so it is pronounced as "mæh." The final "an" is pronounced as "ən" with a soft or unstressed "a" sound. Overall, the spelling of "McMahan" may seem complex, but its pronunciation is relatively straightforward once understood.