fōˈned.]iks, fəˈ-, -et], ]ēks\ noun plural but singular in construction
1.
a. : the study and systematic classification of the sounds made in spoken utterance as they are produced by the organs of speech and as they register on the ear and on instruments
b. : the practical application of this science to the understanding and speaking of languages
2. : the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages
reads Portuguese with some ease but finds its phonetics difficult
3. : a written representation other than conventional spelling
thru is pretty fair phonetics