The spelling of the word "upham" may seem unusual, but it can be explained through phonetic transcription. The first sound, /ʌ/, is an unstressed short vowel sound, like the sound in "cup." The second sound, /f/, is a voiceless fricative sound, like the sound in "phone." The third sound, /æ/, is a short vowel sound, like the sound in "cat." The final sound, /m/, is a voiced nasal consonant sound, like the sound in "gum." Altogether, the spelling of "upham" accurately reflects its phonetic makeup.