Letter x Pronunciation: k+s or g+z

Students and teachers cannot assume that the letter x is always pronounced with the more commonly known k sound + s sound pronunciation.

In English, the x spelling has two possible pronunciations:

• k sound + s sound (box)
• g sound + z sound (exact)

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x = g sound + z sound

The pronunciation of the letter x will be that of the g sound + z sound when both of the following are true:

• The word's stressed syllable begins immediately after the letter x
• The x is followed by a vowel sound

g sound plus z sound
exact	/ɪg 'zækt/ • •
example	/ɪg 'zæm pəl/ • • •
existence	/ɪg 'zɪs təns/ • • •
anxiety	/æŋ 'zɑɪ ə ti/ • • • •

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x = s sound + k sound

The letter x will be pronounced as the k sound + s sound when both of the above are not true.

Also, the letter x will be pronounced as the k sound +s sound when it is the final letter of the word. Note: Inflectional suffixes such as -es and -ed can be added to words ending in the letter x without changing the pronunciation from the k sound + s sound (examples include the words fixes and fixed).

k sound plus s sound
box	/bɑks/   •
toxic	/'tɑk sɪk/ • •
explain	/ɪk 'spleɪn/ • •
galaxy	/'gæl ək si/ • • •

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Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the letter x pronunication patterns. The following words are pronounced as g sound + z sound, even though syllable stress under the rules presented above would not dictate it:

x pronunciation exceptions
exit	'ɛg ziɪt • •
exile	'ɛg zɑɪl • •
existential	ɛg zɪ 'stɛn ʃəl • • • •

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Letter x Pronunciation: k+s or g+z

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