X (letter): Difference between revisions
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'''X''' is the twenty-fourth letter of the [[English alphabet]]. | '''X, x''' is a letter of the [[Latin alphabet]]. It is the twenty-fourth letter of most variants, being placed after [[W (letter)|W]] and before [[Y (letter)|Y]], as is the case for instance in the [[English alphabet]]. Its English name is pronounced [ˈeks], like the prefix ''ex-''. | ||
X is also the [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] representing the number [[10]]. | X is also the [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] representing the number [[10]]. | ||
==Use in English== | ==Use in English== | ||
'''x''', except when beginning a word, where it sounds like z or sh, combines the sound of k (kíng) and hissing s (síng): láx ''lazy'' sounds exactly like lácks ''hasn’t'' | {{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}} | ||
'''x''', except when beginning a word, where it sounds like '''z''' or '''sh''', combines the sound of '''k''' ('''kíng''') and hissing '''s''' ('''síng'''): '''láx''' ''lazy'' sounds exactly like '''lácks''' ''hasn’t'': '''bóx, fáx, áxe, éx-, México, cóxswain''' (which can also be pronounced like the surname '''Cóxon'''), '''éxcellent, síx, sáx, táx, Réx, fóx, fóxy, tóxic, máximum, exámine, Máx, Báx, wáx, Róxy'''. | |||
{{:English spellings/Accents}} | |||
Though normally '''ks''', some speakers prefer to pronounce it '''gz''', at least in words beginning '''ex'''- (but not including the prefix '''éx-''' ''former'', where it would sound inappropriately like '''éggs'''): '''exáct, exámine, exàmple'''. Thus '''Bréxit''' has been rhymed with '''légs ít''' (*légzit), though most people rhyme it with '''wrécks ít'''. | |||
Before -'''io'''- it sounds like -ksh- ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] [kʃ]): '''nóxious, ánxious, compléxion''' (*nókshəs, *ángkshəs, *cəmplékshən). | |||
Often it is followed by a redundant '''c''': '''excépt, éxcise, excîte, éxcellent''', | |||
although if followed by a back vowel ('''a, o, u''') the '''c''' is pronounced '''k''': '''éxcavate''', AmE '''excŏriate''' BrE '''excóriate'''. Words with unstressed '''ex'''- can sound as if they begin '''éx'''- or íx-, according to the speaker. | |||
But this '''x''' sound can also be written, before a front vowel, '''cc''': '''áccident''', *áxident, '''áccent, áccess, accépt, Occidéntal, cóccyx''' *kóxix. | |||
'''x''' is itself a consonant cluster, and it begins the following accidental ones: '''xb, xcl, xl, xm, xt''': '''óxbow, exclâim, áxle, Áxminster, extól'''. | |||
Final '''nx''' is pronounced -ngks, IPA [ŋks]: '''lýnx, mínx, Sphínx, jínx, Mánx'''. | |||
The pronunciation of '''ánxious''' is *ánkshəss, while '''anxîety''' is pronounced *angzîety. | |||
Initial '''x''' is rare. In words from Greek it sounds like '''z''': '''xylophone, Xénophon, xénophobe'''. This can be seen in the two differing '''x'''’s in '''Xërxês''' (*Zërxêez). It can also be initial, as well as medial, in Chinese names, where it always sounds like '''sh''', IPA [ʃ]: '''Xinjiáng'''. In '''X-rây''', the name of the letter X is pronounced: *éxray. | |||
'''x''' also sounds like '''z''' in French plurals: '''tábleaux''' (*táblôz), '''pláteaux''' (*plátôz)—though in French these '''x'''s are silent unless closely followed by a vowel. | |||
*[[ | |||
There is a silent French '''x''' in '''faux-pàs''' (*fô-pà). | |||
'''xx''' is purely commercial: '''[[Exxon-Mobil|Éxxon]]''', '''[[Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans|Bób B. Sóxx]]''' (a respelling of '''bóbby sócks'''). | |||
==Scientific uses== | |||
* | |||
* | *''x'': generic unknown quantity | ||
*X-ray | |||
Latest revision as of 17:37, 28 March 2017
X, x is a letter of the Latin alphabet. It is the twenty-fourth letter of most variants, being placed after W and before Y, as is the case for instance in the English alphabet. Its English name is pronounced [ˈeks], like the prefix ex-.
X is also the Roman numeral representing the number 10.
Use in English
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use in English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alphabetical word list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retroalphabetical list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common misspellings |
x, except when beginning a word, where it sounds like z or sh, combines the sound of k (kíng) and hissing s (síng): láx lazy sounds exactly like lácks hasn’t: bóx, fáx, áxe, éx-, México, cóxswain (which can also be pronounced like the surname Cóxon), éxcellent, síx, sáx, táx, Réx, fóx, fóxy, tóxic, máximum, exámine, Máx, Báx, wáx, Róxy.
- The accents show stress and pronunciation (see English spellings): A: sát, mâde, pàrk, cāst (cást/càst), åll, ãir; E: ére, êar, vèin, fërn; I: sít, mîne, skì, bïrd; O: sóng, môde, lòve, wörd, ŏr; OO: moôn, foòt; U: sún, mûse, fùll, pürr; W: neŵ, ẁant; Y: gým, mŷ, keỳ, mÿrrh.
Though normally ks, some speakers prefer to pronounce it gz, at least in words beginning ex- (but not including the prefix éx- former, where it would sound inappropriately like éggs): exáct, exámine, exàmple. Thus Bréxit has been rhymed with légs ít (*légzit), though most people rhyme it with wrécks ít.
Before -io- it sounds like -ksh- (IPA [kʃ]): nóxious, ánxious, compléxion (*nókshəs, *ángkshəs, *cəmplékshən).
Often it is followed by a redundant c: excépt, éxcise, excîte, éxcellent, although if followed by a back vowel (a, o, u) the c is pronounced k: éxcavate, AmE excŏriate BrE excóriate. Words with unstressed ex- can sound as if they begin éx- or íx-, according to the speaker.
But this x sound can also be written, before a front vowel, cc: áccident, *áxident, áccent, áccess, accépt, Occidéntal, cóccyx *kóxix.
x is itself a consonant cluster, and it begins the following accidental ones: xb, xcl, xl, xm, xt: óxbow, exclâim, áxle, Áxminster, extól.
Final nx is pronounced -ngks, IPA [ŋks]: lýnx, mínx, Sphínx, jínx, Mánx.
The pronunciation of ánxious is *ánkshəss, while anxîety is pronounced *angzîety.
Initial x is rare. In words from Greek it sounds like z: xylophone, Xénophon, xénophobe. This can be seen in the two differing x’s in Xërxês (*Zërxêez). It can also be initial, as well as medial, in Chinese names, where it always sounds like sh, IPA [ʃ]: Xinjiáng. In X-rây, the name of the letter X is pronounced: *éxray.
x also sounds like z in French plurals: tábleaux (*táblôz), pláteaux (*plátôz)—though in French these xs are silent unless closely followed by a vowel.
There is a silent French x in faux-pàs (*fô-pà).
xx is purely commercial: Éxxon, Bób B. Sóxx (a respelling of bóbby sócks).
Scientific uses
- x: generic unknown quantity
- X-ray