The word "lietz" is commonly spelled with a "z" at the end, despite its pronunciation being closer to an "s" sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /liːts/. The reason for the "z" spelling is likely due to its German origin, where the letter "z" is often used to represent the "ts" sound. Despite the uncommon spelling, "lietz" is used as a surname in various parts of the world, including Germany, Austria, and the United States.