Pronunciation: [məkswˈiːnɪ] (IPA) 
The word "McSweeney" is a common Irish surname that is often spelled differently due to its phonetic complexity. It is pronounced /məkˈswiːni/ which means the 'c' is silent as in "knock" or "gnome". The 'S' is pronounced as /swiː/, and the 'ey' in the word is pronounced as /iː/. Despite its complex spelling, the name "McSweeney" is widely recognized around the world and remains an enduring symbol of Irish identity and heritage.
The etymology of the word "McSweeney" derives from Irish and Scottish Gaelic origins. The prefix "Mc" is an anglicized form of the Gaelic word "Mac" meaning "son of". So "McSweeney" can be roughly translated to mean "son of Sweeney". "Sweeney" is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "Suibhne" or "Súibhne", which has various meanings including "pleasant", "well-going", or "suviro". Therefore, "McSweeney" essentially signifies belonging to the Sweeney family or being a descendant of someone named Sweeney.
