Patchell is a surname that is often spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /pəˈtʃɛl/. The first syllable is pronounced like "puh" with a short "u" sound, followed by "ch" as in "church". The second syllable starts with a short "e" sound such as in "best", then it is followed by "l" with a soft "l" sound. This unique spelling of Patchell may cause confusion when pronouncing it for the first time, but with the proper phonetic transcription, it can be easily understood.