French Pronunciation: "x"

1. Pronouncing the Letter x

Depending on its placement within a word (and the word that follows), the letter x can have five different pronunciations in French:

1. “ks”
2. “gz”
3. “z”
4. “ss”
5. not pronounced (silent letter)

Note that similarly to the pronunciation of the letter s, the pronunciation of the letter x can be quite different in French and English words, even when the words are the same or similar.

There are also a number of exceptions to pronunciation rules, so it is important that you practice repeating the words in this tutorial to learn how to pronounce French words properly.

1a. X and Liaisons

In the lesson French Pronunciation: Liaisons, you first learned some rules regarding the pronunciation of an x when it occurs at the end of a word. A mandatory liaison must happen and the final x of a word is pronounced as “z” only in this circumstance:

• When an adjective in the plural form ending in -x is followed by a noun starting with a vowel sound (for a more thorough review of these liaison rules, go back to the lesson French Pronunciation: Liaisons)

As you first learned in the previous lesson Cardinal Numbers 0–69, the pronunciation of the numbers six (6) and dix (10) which are numeral adjectives, behave according to this liaison rule, as shown in the examples below.

Audio	French	English
	six‿amis	six friends
	six‿hôtels	six hotels
	dix‿oranges	ten oranges
	dix-huit	eighteen

1b. X Pronounced “ks”

The letter x is pronounced “ks” when:

• It appears within a word, no matter whether it is preceded or followed by a vowel or a consonant (with a few exceptions you will learn below)
• When the prefix ex- is followed by a consonant (except h)
• When a word ends in -ax, -ex, -inx/-ynx, or -ox

Below are example words in which the letter x is pronounced “ks” for you to practice repeating.

X Within a Word (similar to some English words):

Audio	French	English
	un taxi	a taxi
	un saxophone	a saxophone
	maximum	maximum
	Alexandre	Alexander
	fixe	fixed
	mixte	mixed
	un boxeur	a boxer
	l’oxygène	oxygen
	un texte	a text
	le Luxembourg	Luxembourg

Prefix ex- Followed by a Consonant, Except h (similar to some English words):

Audio	French	English
	une expérience	an experience
	expliquer	to explain
	excellent	excellent
	exclusif	exclusive
	extrême	extreme

Words Ending in -ax, -ex, -inx/-ynx, or -ox (similar to some English words):

Audio	French	English
	un fax	a fax
	relax	relaxed
	un Kleenex	a Kleenex
	un index	an index
	Alex	Alex
	un sphinx	a sphinx
	un lynx	a lynx
	un juke-box	a jukebox

1c. X Pronounced “gz”

The letter x is pronounced “gz” in two circumstances:

• At the beginning of a word
• When the prefix ex- or hex- is followed by a vowel or a mute h

Below are example words in which the letter x is pronounced “gz” for you to practice repeating.

Words Beginning with x-:

Audio	French	English
	un xylophone	a xylophone
	xénophile	xenophile
	Xavier	Xavier

Words Beginning with ex- or hex- Followed by a Vowel or a Mute h (similar to some English words):

Audio	French	English
	exact	exact
	un exemple	an example
	un exercice	an exercise
	exotique	exotic
	l’exhaustion	exhaustion
	l’exhalation	exhalation
	un hexagone	a hexagon

1d. X Pronounced “z”

There are only two circumstances when the letter x within a word or at the end of it is pronounced “z” rather than “ks”:

1. In words derived from the numbers deux (2), six (6), and dix (10), as shown in the examples below
2. In the number dix-neuf (19)

Audio	French	English
	deuxième	second
	deuxièmement	secondly
	sixième	sixth
	sixièmement	sixthly
	dixième	tenth
	dixièmement	tenthly
	dix-neuf	nineteen

1e. X Pronounced “ss”

The letter x is pronounced “ss” when it appears at the end or in the middle of a few words, including the ones you will find in the table below. Note that you have already encountered these words in previous lessons.

Audio	French	English
	six	six
	dix	ten
	soixante	sixty
	Bruxelles	Brussels

1f. Silent x

The letter x is silent at the end of a word in a few circumstances:

• When the numbers six and dix are followed by word starting with a consonant or an aspirated h
• At the end of a singular word (except for words ending in -ax, -ex, -inx/-ynx, or -ox)
• At the end of a plural word if no liaison is required with the next word

Numbers six and dix Followed by a Word Starting with a Consonant or an Aspirated h:

Audio	French	English
	les six cours	the six classes
	six hiboux	six owls
	le dix mai	May 10th
	dix héros	ten heroes
	dix-sept	seventeen

Singular Words Ending in -x, Except Words Ending in -ax, -ex, -inx/-ynx, or -ox:

Audio	French	English
	un choix	a choice
	un prix	a price / prize
	la paix	peace
	heureux	happy
	joyeux	joyful
	faux	false

Plural Words Ending in -x if No Liaison Is Required with the Next Word:

Audio	French	English
	les chevaux	the horses
	des journaux	newspapers
	des jeux	games
	les hiboux	the owls

Review and practice your pronunciation of the letter x with Jason in this video.

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