The spelling of the word "schoolmaster mistresses" may appear confusing at first, but it adheres to the rules of English spelling. The word uses the prefix "schoolmaster" to refer to a male teacher, and the suffix "-esses" to denote female counterparts. The pronunciation is spelt as /skuːl ˈmæstər ˈmɪstrɪsɪz/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet. While the word may look complicated, it is a perfectly acceptable term in English language when referring to female teachers who hold the same position as a schoolmaster.