prefix ex

Rule Core

The prefix ex- comes from Latin, meaning “out, fully, former.” In phonics, its sound depends on the following sound: /eks/ before voiceless consonants, and /ɪgz/ before vowels or voiced sounds.

Articulation Guide

/eks/: tongue near the alveolar ridge, strong but clean airflow. /ɪgz/: short lax vowel /ɪ/, then voiced /gz/ with continuous airflow.

Word Analysis

exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/: ex- + change, showing outward movement. exhaustion /ɪgˈzɔːstʃən/: vowel start triggers /ɪgz/, meaning total depletion. expenditure /ɪkˈspendɪtʃər/: sp- is voiceless, so /eks/.

Pitfalls

Do not pronounce all ex- as /eks/; voicing matters more than spelling.