Picrotoxia is a difficult word to spell due to its complex series of phonemes. The word is phonetically transcribed as [ˌpɪkroʊˈtɒksɪə], with emphasis on the second syllable. The first syllable contains a plosive /p/ sound, followed by the diphthong /ɪə/ in the second syllable. The third syllable contains a fricative /ks/ sound. The spelling of picrotoxia reflects the combination of diverse phonetic sounds, making it a challenging word for both native and non-native English speakers to spell accurately.
The poisonous bitter principle extracted from the berries of the cocculus indicus.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.