The spelling of the word "rohlfs" may seem challenging at first glance, but it can be easily deciphered using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /rɔːlfs/ in IPA, where the first syllable is stressed and the 'oh' sound is similar to the 'au' in the word 'caught'. The 'l' and 'f' sounds are pronounced clearly, followed by a silent 's'. While the spelling may be misleading, understanding the IPA transcription can help in accurately pronouncing and spelling the word "rohlfs".