The spelling of the word "menthenol" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /ˈmɛnθɛnɒl/ in IPA. In this transcription, the first syllable "menth" is pronounced as /ˈmɛnθ/, which represents the consonant blend "m" followed by the "ɛ" vowel sound, then the consonant blend "n" followed by the "θ" sound. The second syllable "enol" is pronounced as /ɛˈnɒl/, with the "ɛ" sound followed by a stressed "nɒ" syllable and ending with the "l" sound.
The word "menthenol" appears to be a combination of two separate terms: "menth" and "enol".
"Menth" is derived from "mentha", which is the Latin name for the mint plant. It ultimately traces back to the Greek word "minthē". Mint is a well-known herb known for its strong and refreshing aroma.
"Enol" is a term used in organic chemistry to describe a certain type of compound consisting of an alkene group (-C=C-) and an alcohol group (-OH). The term "enol" is derived from the blending of "ene" (a suffix indicating a double bond) and "ol" (a suffix indicating an alcohol group).
By combining "menth" from mint and "enol" from the organic chemistry term, "menthenol" likely signifies a compound that has properties of both mint and enol.