The Letter "X" in French In European French
The Letter "X"
"X" is the twenty-fourth letter of the French alphabet. It represents a consonant letter, but its pronunciation changes a lot depending on the word.
Uppercase form | X |
|---|---|
Lowercase form | x |
Letter name | ixe |
Main phonemes | /ks/ /ɡz/ /s/ /z/ silent |
How to pronounce "X"
The letter x has several possible pronunciations in French. The most common are /ks/ and silent final x.
X pronounced /ks/
The sound /ks/ is common in many words, especially in the middle of a word.
ta/x/i → /ta/k.s/i/
taxi
te/x/te → /tɛ/ks/t/
text
X pronounced /ɡz/
In some words, especially when x comes after e and before a vowel, it is pronounced /ɡz/.
e/x/amen → /ɛɡ.za.mɛ̃/
exam
e/x/emple → /ɛɡ.zɑ̃pl/
example
Final X
At the end of a word, x is usually silent.
deu/x/ → /dø/
two
pri/x/ → /pʁi/
price / prize
Final x is also very common as a plural marker, and it is usually silent.
beau/x/ → /bo/
beautiful, plural
Final X in liaison
A normally silent final x can be pronounced before a vowel sound in liaison. In liaison, final x is usually pronounced /z/.
deu/x/ /a/mis → /dø.z‿a.mi/
two friends
beau/x/ /e/nfants → /bo.z‿ɑ̃.fɑ̃/
beautiful children
X in the words six and dix
The words six and dix have special pronunciation patterns. When they are alone or at the end of a phrase, final x is pronounced /s/.
si/x/ → /si/s//
six
di/x/ → /di/s//
ten
Before a consonant, the final x is usually silent.
si/x/ livres → /si livʁ/
six books
di/x/ personnes → /di pɛʁ.sɔn/
ten people
Before a vowel, the final x is pronounced /z/ in liaison.
si/x/ /a/mis → /si.z‿a.mi/
six friends
di/x/ /eu/ros → /di.z‿ø.ʁo/
ten euros
X pronounced /z/
In some words, especially ordinal numbers, x is pronounced /z/.
deu/x/ième → /dø./z/jɛm/
second
si/x/ième → /si./z/jɛm/
sixth
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