The spelling of the word "pournelle" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as /pɔːrnɛl/. The first syllable is pronounced with an open-mid back rounded vowel sound followed by an alveolar approximant. The second syllable is pronounced with a close-mid front unrounded vowel sound followed by an alveolar lateral approximant. The final syllable is pronounced with a close-mid front unrounded vowel sound followed by an alveolar nasal consonant. Overall, the spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word in English.