The spelling of the word "gillam" may seem confusing at first, but it can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The word is pronounced as /ˈɡɪləm/, with the stress on the first syllable. The letter "g" is pronounced as a hard "g" sound, while "i" is pronounced as the short "i" sound. The letters "ll" form a double consonant sound, and the final "am" is pronounced as "uhm". Overall, the spelling of "gillam" accurately reflects its pronunciation.