The word "Schieffer" is spelled with the consonant cluster "sch" followed by the vowel combination "ie." The "ie" is pronounced as a diphthong, with the sound shifting from the "ee" sound to the "uh" sound. The final "er" is pronounced as a schwa sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is spelled /ʃiːfər/. While the word does exist as a surname, the spelling may vary depending on the specific family or individual.