The correct spelling for the two-word phrase "wast gloomy" is actually "was gloomy." The spelling mistake likely resulted from a misheard pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "was" is pronounced as /wʌz/, while "wast" would be pronounced as /wɑst/. The first vowel sound in "was" is pronounced with a short /ʌ/ sound, whereas "wast" has a longer /ɑ/ sound. It's important to listen carefully to the pronunciation of words to avoid spelling errors.