The spelling of the word "STAM" can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription. This word has only four letters but packs a few different sounds. The sibilant "s" sound at the beginning is followed by the clear "t" sound, and then the vowel sound between "a" and "æ". Finally, the word ends with the muffled "m" sound. Overall, the word is spelled exactly as it sounds when spoken aloud. Pronounced [stæm], it means either "to stop" or a type of tree trunk.