The spelling of the word "shelnutt" may seem confusing at first glance. However, using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can help clarify its pronunciation and spelling. The IPA transcription of "shelnutt" is /ʃɛlnʌt/. The initial "sh" sound is represented by the IPA symbol /ʃ/, followed by the short "e" sound /ɛ/. The combination of "ln" is pronounced as a single syllable /l̩n/. The final "utt" is pronounced as /ʌt/. Altogether, this spelling represents the unique pronunciation of the surname "Shelnutt."