The spelling of the word "HILS" is quite straightforward when using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It is pronounced as /hɪlz/ with a short "i" sound, followed by a voiced "l" sound, and ending with a voiceless "s" sound. This word could be confused with "hills", which has a similar pronunciation but with two "l" sounds instead of one. "HILS" means plowing (the action of turning over soil) and it is an uncommon word in modern English.