The spelling of the word "McShan" can be explained phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable, "Mc," is pronounced as /mək/, with a schwa sound followed by a hard "k" sound. The second syllable, "Shan," is pronounced as /ʃæn/, with an "sh" sound followed by the "a" sound as in "cat" and a nasal "n" sound. Together, the word is pronounced as /məkʃæn/. While the spelling may seem unusual, it accurately represents the unique sounds in this surname.