The spelling of the word "phuc" may seem baffling to those unfamiliar with Vietnamese orthography. It is actually pronounced as /fʌk/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the "ph" representing the consonant "f" and the accent marking the rising tone. While the word may have unfortunate connotations in English, in Vietnamese it is simply a common family name. Understanding the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words can deepen one's appreciation for the diversity and complexity of languages around the world.