How Do You Spell CHEATHAM?

Pronunciation: [t͡ʃˈiːθəm] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Cheatham" can be confusing for those not familiar with its phonetic pronunciation. The correct transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /ˈtʃiːtəm/. The first two letters, "ch," are pronounced as a voiceless postalveolar affricate, similar to the "ch" in the word "chocolate." The next two letters, "ea," create a long "ee" sound as in the word "beach." Finally, the "tham" ending is pronounced as a syllabic nasal consonant followed by a schwa sound.