x sound

Core Rule

The letter x represents a consonant cluster, not a single sound. Most commonly it is /ks/ (box). In the stressed prefix ex- before a vowel, it often becomes /ɡz/ (exit). In a small set of word-initial loanwords, x is /z/ (xylophone). Position and following letters determine the sound.

Articulation Guide

/ks/: a clean /k/ release flows immediately into voiceless /s/. /ɡz/: activate voicing for /ɡ/ and glide into /z/ without a break. /z/: tongue near the alveolar ridge with steady voicing.

Example Analysis

exit: ex- + vowel i → /ˈeɡzɪt/, not /ˈeksɪt/. Keep primary stress on the first syllable and link /ɡz/ smoothly.

Pitfalls

Avoid reading all x as /ks/. Check stress and whether a vowel follows ex-. Word-initial /z/ is limited and lexical.