The spelling of the word "subserv" may seem odd to those unfamiliar with it. However, when broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it becomes clearer. The first syllable, "sub," is pronounced as /sʌb/ in the IPA. The second syllable, "serv," is pronounced as /sɜːv/. Therefore, the spelling of "subserv" accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word, which means "to be submissive or subordinate" in nature.