The spelling of the word "onomatop" can initially seem confusing, as it is not a commonly used word in English. However, its pronunciation can be clarified through IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced as "on-uh" (ɑːnə), while the second syllable is pronounced as "mat-uhp" (mætʌp), with a stressed syllable on the second "a". The final "o" in the word is often mistaken for an "a", leading to incorrect spellings such as "onomatopoeia".