Pronunciation: [tˈa͡ɪbiː] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "tybee" may seem confusing to some, but it can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The word is pronounced /taɪˈbiː/, with the stress on the first syllable. This indicates that the "y" in "tybee" is actually pronounced as a long "i" sound, rather than a short "e" sound. The spelling of the word likely derives from the Tybee Island in Georgia, USA, which is pronounced in the same way.
The word "Tybee" has its etymology rooted in the Gullah/Geechee dialect, which is spoken by African Americans in the Lowcountry region of the southeastern United States. It originates from the Akan language, spoken primarily in Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa.
In Akan, the word "tabi" means "parcel" or "package". Enslaved people from the Akan region were brought to the United States during the transatlantic slave trade, bringing their language and cultural practices with them. Over time, "tabi" morphed into "tybee" in the Gullah/Geechee dialect, which referred to a specific type of small boat or canoe used by the enslaved individuals and their descendants for fishing, transportation, and trade along the coast.
Today, "Tybee" predominantly refers to Tybee Island, a barrier island located off the coast of Georgia in the United States.
