The spelling of the word "kautz" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet transcription. The initial sound is /k/, which is a voiceless velar plosive. The second sound is /aʊ/, which is a diphthong pronounced as "ow". The third sound is /t͡s/, which is a voiceless alveolar affricate. The last sound is /z/, which is a voiced alveolar fricative. Together, these sounds create the word "kautz", which is typically spelled with a "z" at the end instead of an "s".