The spelling of "paterfamilias ides" can be confusing due to its Latin roots. The pronunciation of the word is "pa-ter-fuh-mil-ee-us ahy-deez" with the stress on the second syllable. "Paterfamilias" means the male head of a household and "ides" refers to the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October in the Roman calendar. The correct spelling of the word may be daunting, but it is important to understand the meaning behind it.