The spelling of the word "NassAe" may seem puzzling, but it is easily explained through phonetic transcription. In IPA, "NassAe" is pronounced /næs.eɪ/. The first syllable "Nass" is spelled with a double consonant "ss" to indicate that it is pronounced with a short "a" sound, as in "cat." The second syllable "Ae" is spelled with a capital "A" and "e" to indicate that it is pronounced as a diphthong, with a long "a" sound followed by a glide sound.