The spelling of the word "subterranes" might seem confusing at first glance. However, it follows a simple pattern of combining a prefix and a root word. The word "sub-" means "below" or "under", while "terra" means "earth". The addition of "-nes" turns the word into an adjective, indicating that something is underground. In phonetic transcription, the word is spelled /sʌbtəreɪnz/. With its origins in Latin, "subterranes" is a useful word to describe anything that is found beneath the earth's surface.