The spelling of the word "zavala" is straightforward once you understand its pronunciation. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription, "zavala" is spelled /zəˈvɑːlə/. This means that the first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, followed by a voiced "z" and then a long "a" sound. The second syllable starts with a "v" sound and ends with a short "a" sound, followed by an unstressed syllable pronounced with a schwa sound again. Overall, the spelling of "zavala" reflects its unique pronunciation.