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{{Infobox grapheme |
{{Infobox grapheme |
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|name=X |
|name=X |
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|letter=X |
|letter=Xx |
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|script=[[Latin script]] |
|script=[[Latin script]] |
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|type=[[Alphabet]] |
|type=[[Alphabet]] |
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== Use in writing systems == |
== Use in writing systems == |
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{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" |
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" |
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|+Pronunciation |
|+ Pronunciation of {{angbr|x}} by language |
||
! Orthography |
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! colspan="5" | ''Languages in italics are not usually written using the [[Latin alphabet]]'' |
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! Phonemes |
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! Environment |
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|- |
|- |
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! [[Asturian orthography|Asturian]] |
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!Language |
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| {{IPAslink|ʃ}}, {{IPA|/ks/}} |
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!Dialect(s) |
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!Pronunciation ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]) |
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!Environment |
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!Notes |
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|- |
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! rowspan="3" |[[Asturian language|Asturian]] |
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! rowspan="2" |Some central dialects |
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|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
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|Before {{angbr|i}} and usually {{angbr|u}} |
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| |
| |
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|- |
|- |
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! [[Afar language|Afar]] |
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|{{IPA|/sj/}} ~ {{IPA|/ʃj/}} |
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| |
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| |
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|- |
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!Standard and other dialects |
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|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
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| |
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| |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" |[[Afar language|Afar]] |
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|{{IPAslink|ɖ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ɖ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Albanian orthography|Albanian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|dz}} |
|{{IPAslink|dz}} |
||
| |
| |
||
|{{angbr|xh}} represents {{IPAslink|dʒ}} |
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|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Azerbaijani alphabet|Azeri]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|x}} |
|{{IPAslink|x}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Basque orthography|Basque]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
| |
| |
||
|{{angbr|tx}} represents {{IPAslink|tʃ}} |
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|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="3" |[[Catalan orthography|Catalan]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
|Usually (word-initially, after consonants, ''i, au, eu'', in some surnames such as ''Rexach'') |
|Usually (word-initially, after consonants, ''i, au, eu'', in some surnames such as ''Rexach'') |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
||
| |
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| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
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| |
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| |
| |
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|- |
|- |
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! |
! {{nwr|[[Standard Chinese]]}} ([[Pinyin]]) |
||
!''[[Standard Chinese|Standard]]'' |
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|{{IPAslink|ɕ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ɕ}} |
||
| |
| |
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|[[Pinyin]] romanization |
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|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Tsou language|Cou]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ɨ}} ~ {{IPAslink|ʉ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ɨ}} ~ {{IPAslink|ʉ}} |
||
| |
| |
||
|Possibly the only case in the world of {{angbr|x}} used as a vowel. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="2" | [[Dutch orthography|Dutch]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
|Usually |
|Usually, mainly used in loanwords |
||
|Mainly used in loanwords |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|In ''[[Texel]]'' |
|In ''[[Texel]]'' |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="4" | [[English orthography|English]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
|Usually; before an unstressed vowel |
|Usually; before an unstressed vowel |
||
|[[Yod-coalescence]] leads to {{IPA|/kʃ/}} |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
||
|Before a stressed vowel |
|Before a stressed vowel |
||
|[[Yod-coalescence]] leads to {{IPA|/gʒ/}} |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
||
|Word-initially |
|Word-initially |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|h}} |
|{{IPAslink|h}} |
||
|[[Don Quixote]], [[Oaxaca]], words derived from [[Classical Nahuatl]]/[[Nahuatl]] |
|[[Don Quixote]], [[Oaxaca]], words derived from [[Classical Nahuatl]]/[[Nahuatl]] |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Esperanto orthography|Esperanto]] |
||
|''in digraphs only as a substitute for a diacritic'' |
|''in digraphs only as a substitute for a diacritic'' |
||
|''cx, gx, hx, jx, sx, ux'' are used as substitutes for ''ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ, ŭ'' where these characters are not available |
|''cx, gx, hx, jx, sx, ux'' are used as substitutes for ''ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ, ŭ'' where these characters are not available, see [[X-convention]] |
||
|See [[X-convention]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="5" |[[French orthography|French]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
|Usually; in ''[[Aix (disambiguation)#France|Aix-]]'' (prefix or name of several places) |
|Usually; in ''[[Aix (disambiguation)#France|Aix-]]'' (prefix or name of several places) |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
||
|Mainly in the [[prefix]] ex- followed by a vowel; sometimes word-initially |
|Mainly in the [[prefix]] ex- followed by a vowel; sometimes word-initially |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|Silent |
|Silent |
||
|Word-finally with no liaison |
|Word-finally with no liaison |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
||
|Word-finally with [[Liaison (French)|liaison]]; in ''sixième'' (6th) and ''dixième'' (10th) |
|Word-finally with [[Liaison (French)|liaison]]; in ''sixième'' (6th) and ''dixième'' (10th) |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|In ''six'' ([[6]]), ''dix'' ([[10]]), ''[[Auxerre]]'', and ''Bruxelles'' ([[Brussels]]) |
|In ''six'' ([[6]]), ''dix'' ([[10]]), ''[[Auxerre]]'', and ''Bruxelles'' ([[Brussels]]) |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="2" |[[Galician alphabet|Galician]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
|Usually |
|Usually |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/(k)s/}} |
|{{IPA|/(k)s/}} |
||
|Some |
|Some learned loanwords |
||
|In learned loanwords |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[German orthography|German]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
| |
|||
|Mainly used in loanwords |
|Mainly used in loanwords |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="2" |[[Indonesian orthography|Indonesian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|In the beginning of a word |
|In the beginning of a word, mainly used in [[Loanword|loanwords]] for science |
||
| rowspan="2" |Mainly used in [[Loanword|loanwords]] for science |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
|In the middle or the end of a word, although words borrowed with the letter x in the middle or the end of a word are always replaced by the letters 'ks'. For example, the word 'maximum' and 'climax' in Indonesian would be 'maksimal' and 'klimaks'. Letter x on the middle or the end of a word only occurs in names. |
|In the middle or the end of a word, although words borrowed with the letter x in the middle or the end of a word are always replaced by the letters 'ks'. For example, the word 'maximum' and 'climax' in Indonesian would be 'maksimal' and 'klimaks'. Letter x on the middle or the end of a word only occurs in names. Mainly used in [[Loanword|loanwords]] for science. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Italian orthography|Italian]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
| |
|||
|Mainly used in learned loanwords |
|Mainly used in learned loanwords |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Kurdish orthography|Kurdish]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|x}} |
|{{IPAslink|x}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Lao language|Lao]] romanization |
||
|{{IPAslink|ɕ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ɕ}} |
||
| |
| |
||
|Romanization |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Leonese dialect|Leonese]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Ligurian language|Ligurian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʒ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʒ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Maltese orthography|Maltese]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Mayan languages|Mayan]] ([[Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala|ALMG]]) |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
| |
| |
||
|Modern Romanization |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Nahuatl orthography|Nahuatl]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Nguni language|Nguni]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ǁ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ǁ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Norwegian orthography|Norwegian]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
| |
|||
|Archaic |
|Archaic |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="4" | [[Occitan orthography|Occitan]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|t͡s}} |
|{{IPAslink|t͡s}} |
||
|Usually |
|Usually |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|Before consonants |
|Before consonants |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/ɡz/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɡz/}} |
||
|In the prefix ex- before vowels in the [[Provençal dialect|Provençal]], [[Limousin dialect|Limousin]], [[Auvergnat]], [[Vivaro-Alpine]], and [[Niçard]] dialects |
|||
|In the prefix ex- before vowels |
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|In the [[Provençal dialect|Provençal]], [[Limousin dialect|Limousin]], [[Auvergnat]], [[Vivaro-Alpine]], and [[Niçard]] dialects |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/ɡʒ/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɡʒ/}} |
||
|Before {{angbr|i}} and {{angbr|u}} |
|Before {{angbr|i}} and {{angbr|u}} in the [[Auvergnat]] dialect |
||
|In the [[Auvergnat]] dialect |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Oromo language|Oromo]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|tʼ}} |
|{{IPAslink|tʼ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Pirahã language|Pirahã]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʔ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʔ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Polish orthography|Polish]] |
||
|{{IPA|/ks ~ gz/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks ~ gz/}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="5" | [[Portuguese orthography|Portuguese]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
|Usually, especially word-initially; in words derived from [[Tupi language|Tupi]] |
|Usually, especially word-initially; in words derived from [[Tupi language|Tupi]] |
||
| |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
|Some words |
|Some words, mainly in learned loanwords |
||
|Mainly in learned loanwords |
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|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|When preceded by {{angbr|e}} and a consonant; some words |
|When preceded by {{angbr|e}} and a consonant; some words |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
||
|In the [[prefix]] ''ex-'' ("ex-") before a vowel |
|In the [[prefix]] ''ex-'' ("ex-") before a vowel |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
|{{IPA|/gz/}} |
||
|In the [[prefix]] ''[[hexa-]]'' ("[[Numeral prefix|hexa]]-") |
|In the [[prefix]] ''[[hexa-]]'' ("[[Numeral prefix|hexa]]-") |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Sardinian alphabet|Sardinian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʒ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʒ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="2" |[[Sicilian orthography|Sicilian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
||
|Old Sicilian words and names |
|Old Sicilian words and names, e.g. [[Bettino Craxi|Craxi]], [[Joppolo Giancaxio|Giancaxio]] |
||
|E.g. [[Bettino Craxi|Craxi]], [[Joppolo Giancaxio]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPA|/k(ə)s(ə)/}} |
|{{IPA|/k(ə)s(ə)/}} |
||
|Loanwords |
|Loanwords |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Somali orthography|Somali]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|ħ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ħ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="3" | [[Spanish orthography|Spanish]] |
||
|{{IPA|/(k)s/}} |
|{{IPA|/(k)s/}} |
||
|Usually |
|Usually |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|Word-initially |
|Word-initially |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}} |
|{{IPAslink|ʃ}}, {{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}},{{IPAslink|x}} |
||
|
|In some names and words |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! [[Swedish orthography|Swedish]] |
|||
|{{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
|{{IPAslink|x}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" |[[Swedish language|Swedish]] |
|||
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
|{{IPA|/ks/}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Uzbek alphabet|Uzbek]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|χ}} |
|{{IPAslink|χ}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! rowspan="2" | [[Venetian orthography|Venetian]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
|{{IPAslink|z}} |
||
|Usually |
|Usually |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
|In ''Venexia'' "[[Venice]]" |
|In ''Venexia'' "[[Venice]]" |
||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
! [[Vietnamese orthography|Vietnamese]] |
||
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
|{{IPAslink|s}} |
||
| |
|||
| |
| |
||
|} |
|} |
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X is the [[Letter frequency|third least frequently used letter]] in English (after {{angbr|q}} and {{angbr|z}}), with a frequency of about 0.15% in words.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Mička |first=Pavel |title=Letter frequency (English) |url=http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English |website=Algoritmy.net |access-date=9 February 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304152631/http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English |url-status=live }}</ref> |
X is the [[Letter frequency|third least frequently used letter]] in English (after {{angbr|q}} and {{angbr|z}}), with a frequency of about 0.15% in words.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Mička |first=Pavel |title=Letter frequency (English) |url=http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English |website=Algoritmy.net |access-date=9 February 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304152631/http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
===Romance languages=== |
|||
In Latin, {{angbr|x}} stood for {{IPA|/ks/}}. In the [[Romance languages]], as a result of assorted phonetic changes, {{angbr|x}} has other pronunciations: |
|||
*In [[Catalan language|Catalan]], {{angbr|x}} has three pronunciations; the most common is {{IPAslink|ʃ}}; as in 'xarop' (syrup). Others are: {{IPA|/ks/}}; 'fixar' (to fix), {{IPA|/ɡz/}}; 'examen'. In addition, {{IPAslink|ʃ}} gets voiced to {{IPAblink|ʒ}} before voiced consonants; 'caixmir'. Catalan also has the digraph {{angbr|tx}}, pronounced {{IPAslink|tʃ}}. |
|||
*In [[Galician language|Galician]] and [[Leonese language|Leonese]], {{angbr|x}} is pronounced {{IPAslink|ʃ}} in most cases (often used in place of etymological ''g'' or ''j''). The pronunciation {{IPA|/ks/}} occurs in learned words, such as '<nowiki/>''taxativo''<nowiki/>' (taxing). However, Galician speakers tend to pronounce it {{IPAslink|s}}, especially when it appears before plosives, such as in '''externo''<nowiki/>' (external). |
|||
*In [[French language|French]], {{angbr|x}} usually represents {{IPA|/ks/}} or (primarily in words beginning with ex- followed by a vowel) {{IPA|/ɡz/}}. It is pronounced {{IPAslink|s}} in some city names such as ''[[Brussels|Bruxelles]]'' (although some people pronounce it 'ks') or ''[[Auxerre]]''; it is nevertheless pronounced {{IPA|/ks/}} in [[Aix (disambiguation)|Aix]], the name of several towns. At the ends of other words, it is silent (or {{IPAslink|z}} in [[Liaison (French)|liaison]] if the next word starts with a vowel). Two exceptions are pronounced {{IPAslink|s}}: ''six'' ("six"), ''dix'' ("ten"). It is pronounced {{IPAslink|z}} in ''sixième'' and ''dixième''. |
|||
*In [[Italian language|Italian]], {{angbr|x}} is either pronounced {{IPA|/ks/}}, as in ''extra'', ''uxorio'', ''xilofono'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dizionario.rai.it |title=Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia |trans-title=Dictionary of Spelling and Pronunciation |language=it |website=Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia |access-date=9 February 2014 |archive-date=16 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416110248/http://www.dizionario.rai.it/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or {{IPA|/ɡz/}}, as ''exogamia'', when it is preceded by {{angbr|e}} and followed by a vowel. In several related languages, notably Venetian, it represents the voiced sibilant {{IPAslink|z}}. It is also used, mainly amongst the young people, as a short written form for "per", meaning "for": for example, "x sempre" ("forever"). This is because in Italian the [[×|multiplication sign]] (similar to {{angbr|x}}) is called "per". However, {{angbr|x}} is found only in [[loanword]]s, as it is not part of the standard [[Italian alphabet]]; in most words with {{angbr|x}}, this letter may be replaced with 's' or 'ss' (with different pronunciation: ''xilofono/silofono'', ''taxi/tassì'') or, rarely, by 'cs' (with the same pronunciation: ''claxon/[[:it:clacson|clacson]]''). |
|||
*In [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], {{angbr|x}} has four main pronunciations; the most common is {{IPAslink|ʃ}}, as in 'xícara' (cup). The other sounds are: {{IPA|/ks/}} as in 'flexão' (flexion); {{IPAslink|s}}, when preceded by E and followed by a consonant, as in 'contexto' ({{IPAslink|ʃ}} in European Portuguese), and in a small number of other words, such as 'próximo' (close/next); and (the rarest) {{IPAslink|z}}, which occurs in the prefix 'ex-' before a vowel, as in 'exagerado' (exaggerated). A rare fifth sound is {{IPA|/ɡz/}}, coexisting with {{IPAslink|z}} and {{IPA|/ks/}} as acceptable pronunciations in ''exantema'' and in words with the Greek prefix 'hexa-'. |
|||
*In [[Sardinian language|Sardinian]] and [[Ligurian (Romance language)|Ligurian]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPAslink|ʒ}}. |
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*In [[Old Spanish]], {{angbr|x}} was pronounced {{IPAslink|ʃ}}, as it is still currently in other [[Iberian Romance languages]]. Later, the sound evolved to a {{IPAslink|x}} sound. In modern [[Spanish language|Spanish]], due to a spelling reform, whenever {{angbr|x}} is used for the {{IPAslink|x}} sound it has been replaced with {{angbr|j}}, including in words that originally had {{angbr|x}} such as ''ejemplo'' or ''ejercicio'', though {{angbr|x}} is still retained for some names (notably 'México', even though 'Méjico' may sometimes be used in Spain). Presently, {{angbr|x}} represents the sound {{IPAslink|s}} (word-initially), or the consonant cluster {{IPA|/ks/}} (e.g. ''oxígeno, examen''). Rarely, it can be pronounced {{IPAslink|ʃ}} as in Old Spanish in some proper nouns such as 'Raxel' (a variant of [[Rachel]]) and ''[[Uxmal]]''. |
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*In [[Venetian language|Venetian]], {{angbr|x}} represents the voiced alveolar sibilant {{IPAslink|z}} much like in Portuguese 'exagerado', English 'xylophone' or in the French 'sixième'. Examples from medieval texts include ''raxon'' (reason), ''prexon'' (prison), ''dexerto'' (desert), ''chaxa'' or ''caxa'' (home). Nowadays, the best-known word is ''xe'' (is/are). The most notable exception to this rule is the name ''Venexia'' {{IPA|/veˈnɛsja/}} in which {{angbr|x}} has evolved from the initial voiced sibilant {{IPAslink|z}} to the present day voiceless sibilant {{IPAslink|s}}. |
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===Other languages=== |
===Other languages=== |
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In languages which adopted the [[Latin script|Latin alphabet]] later, {{angbr|x}} is used for various sounds, in some cases inspired by Latin or its descendants, but in others for unrelated consonants. Since the various Romance pronunciations of {{angbr|x}} can often be written in other ways, the letter becomes available for other sounds. |
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In Latin, {{angbr|x}} stood for {{IPA|[ks]}}. In some languages, as a result of assorted phonetic changes, handwriting adaptations or simply spelling convention, {{angbr|x}} has other pronunciations: |
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*In [[ |
*In [[Albanian language|Albanian]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPAslink|dz}} while the [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{angbr|xh}} represents {{IPAslink|dʒ}}. |
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*It represents {{IPAslink|x}} ([[voiceless velar fricative]]) in [[Apache]], [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] (Hawar alphabet), [[Georgian language|Georgian]] (when Latinized), [[Lojban]], [[Pashto]] (when Latinized), [[Tatar language|Tatar]] (Jaꞑalif, Zamanälif, official romanization of 2012), [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]], and [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] ([[Uyghur Latin alphabet|Latin script]]). |
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*In [[Dutch language|Dutch]], {{angbr|x}} usually represents {{IPA|[ks]}}, except in the name of the island of [[Texel]], which is pronounced ''Tessel''. This is because of [[Dutch language#Historical sound changes|historical sound-changes in Dutch]], where all {{IPA|/ks/}} sounds have been replaced by {{IPA|/s/}} sounds. Words with an {{angbr|x}} in the Dutch language are nowadays usually [[loanword]]s. In the [[Languages of Belgium|Dutch-speaking part of Belgium]], [[family name]]s with {{angbr|x}} are not uncommon (e.g. Dierckx, Hendrickx, Koninckx, Sterckx, Vranckx). |
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*In [[Basque language|Basque]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPAslink|ʃ}}. Additionally, the digraph {{angbr|tx}} represents {{IPAslink|tʃ}}. |
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*In [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], {{angbr|x}} is generally pronounced {{IPA|[ks]}}, but since the 19th century, there has been a tendency to spell it out as {{angbr|ks}}; it may still be retained in personal names, though it is fairly rare, and occurs mostly in foreign words and [[SMS language]]. Usage in [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Finnish language|Finnish]] is similar (while [[Swedish language|Swedish]], on the other hand, makes frequent use of {{angbr|x}} in native words as well as in loanwords). |
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*In [[Hanyu Pinyin]], [[Standard Chinese]]'s official transcription system in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, the letter {{angbr|x}} represents the [[voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative]] {{IPAslink|ɕ}}, for instance in '[[Xi (surname)|Xi]]', {{IPA|/ɕi/}}. |
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*In [[German language|German]], generally pronounced {{IPA|[ks]}}; in native words, however, such as ''Ochs'' or ''wachsen'', the cluster {{IPA|[ks]}} is often written {{angbr|chs}}. |
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*In [[Dutch language|Dutch]], {{angbr|x}} usually represents {{IPA|/ks/}}, except in the name of the island of [[Texel]], which is pronounced ''Tessel''. This is because of [[Dutch language#Historical sound changes|historical sound-changes in Dutch]], where all {{IPA|/ks/}} sounds have been replaced by {{IPAslink|s}} sounds. Words with an {{angbr|x}} in the Dutch language are nowadays usually [[loanword]]s. In the [[Languages of Belgium|Dutch-speaking part of Belgium]], [[family name]]s with {{angbr|x}} are not uncommon (e.g. Dierckx, Hendrickx, Koninckx, Sterckx, Vranckx). |
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*{{lang-fr|at the ends of words}}, silent (or {{IPA|[z]}} in [[Liaison (French)|liaison]] if the next word starts with a vowel). Three exceptions are pronounced {{IPA|[s]}}: ''six'' ("six"), ''dix'' ("ten") and in some city names such as ''[[Brussels|Bruxelles]]'' (although some people pronounce it 'ks') or ''[[Auxerre]]''; it is fully pronounced {{IPA|[ks]}} in [[Aix (disambiguation)|Aix]], the name of several towns. It is pronounced {{IPA|[z]}} in ''sixième'' and ''dixième''. Otherwise {{IPA|[ks]}} or (primarily in words beginning with ex- followed by a vowel) {{IPA|[ɡz]}}. |
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*In [[Esperanto]], the [[x-convention]] replaces {{angbr|[[ĉ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĝ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĥ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĵ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ŝ]]}}, and {{angbr|[[ŭ]]}} with x-suffixes: {{angbr|cx}}, {{angbr|gx}}, {{angbr|hx}}, {{angbr|jx}}, {{angbr|sx}}, and {{angbr|ux}}. |
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*In [[Italian language|Italian]], {{angbr|x}} is either pronounced {{IPA|[ks]}}, as in ''extra'', ''uxorio'', ''xilofono'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dizionario.rai.it |title=Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia |trans-title=Dictionary of Spelling and Pronunciation |language=it |website=Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia |access-date=9 February 2014 |archive-date=16 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416110248/http://www.dizionario.rai.it/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or {{IPA|[ɡz]}}, as ''exogamia'', when it is preceded by {{angbr|e}} and followed by a vowel. In several related languages, notably Venetian, it represents the voiced sibilant {{IPA|[z]}}. It is also used, mainly amongst the young people, as a short written form for "per", meaning "for": for example, "x sempre" ("forever"). This is because in Italian the [[×|multiplication sign]] (similar to {{angbr|x}}) is called "per". However, {{angbr|x}} is found only in [[loanword]]s, as it is not part of the standard [[Italian alphabet]]; in most words with {{angbr|x}}, this letter may be replaced with 's' or 'ss' (with different pronunciation: ''xilofono/silofono'', ''taxi/tassì'') or, rarely, by 'cs' (with the same pronunciation: ''claxon/[[:it:clacson|clacson]]''). |
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*In [[German language|German]], generally pronounced {{IPA|/ks/}}; in native words, however, such as ''Ochs'' or ''wachsen'', the cluster {{IPA|/ks/}} is often written {{angbr|chs}}. |
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*In [[Old Spanish]], {{angbr|x}} was pronounced {{IPA|[ʃ]}}, as it is still currently in other [[Iberian Romance languages]]. Later, the sound evolved to a hard {{IPA|[x]}} sound. In modern [[Spanish language|Spanish]], due to a spelling reform, whenever {{angbr|x}} is used for the {{IPA|[x]}} sound it has been replaced with {{angbr|j}}, including in words that originally had {{angbr|x}} such as ''ejemplo'' or ''ejercicio'', though {{angbr|x}} is still retained for some names (notably 'México', even though 'Méjico' may sometimes be used in Spain). Presently, {{angbr|x}} represents the sound {{IPA|[s]}} (word-initially), or the consonant cluster {{IPA|[ks]}} (e.g. ''oxígeno, examen''). Rarely, it can be pronounced {{IPA|[ʃ]}} as in Old Spanish in some proper nouns such as 'Raxel' (a variant of [[Rachel]]) and ''[[Uxmal]]''. |
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*In transliterations of [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], primarily Indo-Aryan languages, {{angbr|x}} represents the consonant cluster {{IPA|[kʃ]}} in alternate spellings of words containing 'क्ष' (kṣ), especially names such as [[Laxmi]] and [[Dikshit|Dixit]]. Less frequently, {{angbr|x}} is used to represent 'ख़' {{IPAslink|x}}. |
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*In [[Galician language|Galician]] and [[Leonese language|Leonese]], {{angbr|x}} is pronounced {{IPA|[ʃ]}} in most cases (often used in place of etymological ''g'' or ''j''). The pronunciation {{IPA|[ks]}} occurs in learned words, such as '<nowiki/>''taxativo''<nowiki/>' (taxing). However, Galician speakers tend to pronounce it {{IPA|[s]}}, especially when it appears before plosives, such as in '''externo''<nowiki/>' (external). |
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*In [[Lao language|Lao]], based on [[romanization of Lao#Consonants|romanization of Lao consonants]], {{angbr|x}} may represent {{IPAslink|ɕ}}, e.g. in [[Lan Xang]]. |
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*In [[Catalan language|Catalan]], {{angbr|x}} has three sounds; the most common is {{IPA|[ʃ]}}; as in 'xarop' (syrup). Other sounds are: {{IPA|[ks]}}; 'fixar' (to fix), {{IPA|[ɡz]}}; 'examen'. In addition, {{IPA|[ʃ]}} gets voiced to {{IPA|[ʒ]}} before voiced consonants; 'caixmir'. Catalan also has the digraph {{angbr|tx}}, pronounced {{IPA|[tʃ]}}. |
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*In [[Maltese language|Maltese]], {{angbr|x}} is pronounced {{IPAslink|ʃ}} or, in some cases, {{IPAslink|ʒ}} (only in loanwords such as 'televixin', and not for all speakers). |
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*In [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], {{angbr|x}} has four main sounds; the most common is {{IPA|[ʃ]}}, as in 'xícara' (cup). The other sounds are: {{IPA|[ks]}} as in 'flexão' (flexion); {{IPA|[s]}}, when preceded by E and followed by a consonant, as in 'contexto' ({{IPA|[ʃ]}} in European Portuguese), and in a small number of other words, such as 'próximo' (close/next); and (the rarest) {{IPA|[z]}}, which occurs in the prefix 'ex-' before a vowel, as in 'exagerado' (exaggerated). A rare fifth sound is {{IPA|[ɡz]}}, coexisting with {{IPA|[z]}} and {{IPA|[ks]}} as acceptable pronunciations in ''exantema'' and in words with the Greek prefix 'hexa-'. |
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*In [[ |
*In [[Nahuatl]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPAslink|ʃ}}. |
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*In [[Nguni languages]], {{angbr|x}} represents the [[alveolar lateral click]] {{IPAslink|ǁ}}. |
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*In [[Venetian language|Venetian]], it represents the voiced alveolar sibilant {{IPA|[z]}} much like in Portuguese 'exagerado', English 'xylophone' or in the French 'sixième'. Examples from medieval texts include ''raxon'' (reason), ''prexon'' (prison), ''dexerto'' (desert), ''chaxa'' or ''caxa'' (home). Nowadays, the best-known word is ''xe'' (is/are). The most notable exception to this rule is the name ''Venexia'' {{IPA|[veˈnɛsja]}} in which {{angbr|x}} has evolved from the initial voiced sibilant {{IPA|[z]}} to the present day voiceless sibilant. |
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*In [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], {{angbr|x}} is generally pronounced {{IPA|/ks/}}, but since the 19th century, there has been a tendency to spell it out as {{angbr|ks}}; it may still be retained in personal names, though it is fairly rare, and occurs mostly in foreign words and [[SMS language]]. Usage in [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Finnish language|Finnish]] is similar (while [[Swedish language|Swedish]], on the other hand, makes frequent use of {{angbr|x}} in native words as well as in loanwords). |
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*In [[Albanian language|Albanian]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPA|[dz]}}, while the [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{angbr|xh}} represents {{IPA|[dʒ]}}. |
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*In [[ |
*In [[Pirahã language|Pirahã]], {{angbr|x}} symbolizes the [[glottal stop]] {{IPAslink|ʔ}}. |
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*In [[Polish language|Polish]], {{angbr|x}} was used prior to 19th century both in loanwords and native words and was pronounced {{IPA| |
*In [[Polish language|Polish]], {{angbr|x}} was used prior to 19th century both in loanwords and native words and was pronounced {{IPA|/ks/}} or {{IPA|/ɡz/}}, e.g. ''xiążę'', ''xięstwo'' (now ''książę'', ''księstwo''). This was later replaced by {{angbr|ks}} and {{angbr|gz}} in almost all words and remained only in a few loanwords as 'xenia' (xenien), surnames as Axentowicz, Jaxa, Koxowski, Mixtacki, Rexemowski, Xiężopolski, names as Xawery, Xymena and abbreviations. |
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*In [[Vietnamese alphabet#Consonants|Vietnamese]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPAslink|s}}. This sound was {{IPAblink|ɕ}} in Middle Vietnamese, resembling the Portuguese {{IPAslink|ʃ}}, spelled {{angbr|x}}. |
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An illustrating example of {{angbr|x}} as a "leftover" letter is differing usage in three different [[Cushitic languages]]: |
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Additionally, in languages for which the [[Latin script|Latin alphabet]] has been adapted only recently, {{angbr|x}} has been used for various sounds, in some cases inspired by European usage, but in others, for consonants uncommon in Europe. For these no Latin letter stands out as an obvious choice, and since most of the various European pronunciations of {{angbr|x}} can be written by other means, the letter becomes available for more unusual sounds. |
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*[[Afar language|Afar]]: [[voiced alveolar implosive]] {{IPAslink|ɗ}} |
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*{{angbr|x}} represents {{IPA|[x]}} ([[voiceless velar fricative]]) in e.g. [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] (Hawar alphabet), [[Georgian language|Georgian]] (when Latinized), [[Lojban]], [[Pashto]] (when Latinized), [[Tatar language|Tatar]] (Jaꞑalif, Zamanälif, official romanization of 2012), [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]], and [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] ([[Uyghur Latin alphabet|Latin script]]). |
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*[[Oromo language|Oromo]]: [[alveolar ejective]] {{IPAslink|tʼ}} |
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*[[Esperanto]]: The [[x-convention]] replaces {{angbr|[[ĉ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĝ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĥ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ĵ]]}}, {{angbr|[[ŝ]]}}, and {{angbr|[[ŭ]]}} with x-suffixes: {{angbr|cx}}, {{angbr|gx}}, {{angbr|hx}}, {{angbr|jx}}, {{angbr|sx}}, and {{angbr|ux}}. |
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*[[Somali language|Somali]]: [[voiceless pharyngeal fricative]] {{IPAslink|ħ}} |
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*In transliteration of [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], primarily Indo-Aryan languages, {{angbr|x}} represents the consonant cluster {{IPA|[kʃ]}} in alternate spellings of words containing 'क्ष' (kṣ), especially names such as [[Laxmi]] and [[Dikshit|Dixit]]. Less frequently, {{angbr|x}} is used to represent 'ख़' {{IPA|[x]}}. |
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*In [[Apache]] {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPA|[x]}} |
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*In [[Nahuatl]], {{angbr|x}} represents {{IPA|[ʃ]}}. |
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*In [[Nguni languages]], {{angbr|x}} represents the [[alveolar lateral click]] {{IPA|[ǁ]}}. |
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*In [[Pirahã language|Pirahã]], {{angbr|x}} symbolizes the [[glottal stop]] {{IPA|[ʔ]}}. |
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*An illustrating example of "x" as a "leftover" letter is differing usage in three different [[Cushitic languages]]: |
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**[[Afar language|Afar]]: [[voiced alveolar implosive]] {{IPA|[ɗ]}} |
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**[[Oromo language|Oromo]]: [[alveolar ejective]] {{IPA|[tʼ]}} |
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**[[Somali language|Somali]]: [[voiceless pharyngeal fricative]] {{IPA|[ħ]}} |
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*In East and Southeast Asia: |
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**In [[Lao language|Lao]], based on [[romanization of Lao#Consonants|romanization of Lao consonants]], {{angbr|x}} may represent {{IPA|[ɕ]}}, e.g. in [[Lan Xang]]. |
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**In [[Vietnamese alphabet#Consonants|Vietnamese]], {{angbr|x}} is pronounced like English {{angbr|s}} (at the beginning of a word, e.g. "sing"). This sound was {{IPA|[ɕ]}} in Middle Vietnamese, resembling the Portuguese sound {{IPA|/ʃ/}}, spelled {{angbr|x}}. |
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**In [[Hanyu Pinyin]], [[Standard Chinese]]'s official transcription system in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, the letter {{angbr|x}} represents the [[voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative]] {{IPA|/ɕ/}}, for instance in '[[Xi (surname)|Xi]]', {{IPA|[ɕi]}}. |
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===Other systems=== |
===Other systems=== |
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{{Latin alphabet|X|}} |
{{Latin alphabet|X|}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} |
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[[Category:ISO basic Latin letters]] |
[[Category:ISO basic Latin letters]] |
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X | |
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X x | |
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Usage | |
Writing system | Latin script |
Type | Alphabetic and Logographic |
Language of origin | Latin language Greek language |
Sound values | [x] [χ] [ħ] [kʰ] [ks] [ʃ] [ɕ] [tʼ] [ʒ] [ɖ] [ʔ] [ǁ] [gʒ][1] [kʃ] [d͡z] [d͡ʒ] [t͡s] [t͡ʃ] [sʲ] [z] [gz] [∅] /ɛks/ |
In Unicode | U+0058, U+0078 |
Alphabetical position | 24 |
History | |
Development | |
Time period | ~-700 to present |
Descendants | • × • ⨘ • ⨉ • ⨯ • ✗ • ☒ • ꭓ • X̧ |
Sisters | Х 𐍇 Ⴕ ქ Ⴟ ჯ |
Other | |
Associated graphs | x(x) |
Writing direction | Left-to-Right |
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. |
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ISO basic Latin alphabet |
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AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz |
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X, or x, is the twenty-fourth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ex (pronounced /ˈɛks/), plural exes.[2]
Western Greek Chi |
Etruscan X |
Latin X |
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The letter ⟨X⟩, representing /ks/, was inherited from the Etruscan alphabet. It perhaps originated in the ⟨Χ⟩ of the Euboean alphabet or another Western Greek alphabet, which also represented /ks/. Its relationship with the ⟨Χ⟩ of the Eastern Greek alphabets, which represented /kʰ/, is uncertain.
The pronunciation of /ks/ in the Romance languages underwent sound changes, with various outcomes:
In Old Spanish, ⟨x⟩ thus came to represent /ʃ/, which it still represents in most Iberian languages and in the orthographies of other languages influenced by Spanish, such as Nahuatl. In French (with a few exceptions), Italian, Romanian, and modern Spanish, ⟨x⟩ was replaced by other letters.
The use of ⟨x⟩ to represent /ks/ was reintroduced to the Romance languages via Latin loanwords. In many words this /ks/ was voicedto/gz/.
Orthography | Phonemes | Environment |
---|---|---|
Asturian | /ʃ/, /ks/ | |
Afar | /ɖ/ | |
Albanian | /dz/ | |
Azeri | /x/ | |
Basque | /ʃ/ | |
Catalan | /ʃ/ | Usually (word-initially, after consonants, i, au, eu, in some surnames such as Rexach) |
/gz/ | ||
/ks/ | ||
Standard Chinese (Pinyin) | /ɕ/ | |
Cou | /ɨ/ ~ /ʉ/ | |
Dutch | /ks/ | Usually, mainly used in loanwords |
/s/ | InTexel | |
English | /ks/ | Usually; before an unstressed vowel |
/gz/ | Before a stressed vowel | |
/z/ | Word-initially | |
/h/ | Don Quixote, Oaxaca, words derived from Classical Nahuatl/Nahuatl | |
Esperanto | in digraphs only as a substitute for a diacritic | cx, gx, hx, jx, sx, ux are used as substitutes for ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ, ŭ where these characters are not available, see X-convention |
French | /ks/ | Usually; in Aix- (prefix or name of several places) |
/gz/ | Mainly in the prefix ex- followed by a vowel; sometimes word-initially | |
Silent | Word-finally with no liaison | |
/z/ | Word-finally with liaison; in sixième (6th) and dixième (10th) | |
/s/ | Insix (6), dix (10), Auxerre, and Bruxelles (Brussels) | |
Galician | /ʃ/ | Usually |
/(k)s/ | Some learned loanwords | |
German | /ks/ | Mainly used in loanwords |
Indonesian | /s/ | In the beginning of a word, mainly used in loanwords for science |
/ks/ | In the middle or the end of a word, although words borrowed with the letter x in the middle or the end of a word are always replaced by the letters 'ks'. For example, the word 'maximum' and 'climax' in Indonesian would be 'maksimal' and 'klimaks'. Letter x on the middle or the end of a word only occurs in names. Mainly used in loanwords for science. | |
Italian | /ks/ | Mainly used in learned loanwords |
Kurdish | /x/ | |
Lao romanization | /ɕ/ | |
Leonese | /ʃ/ | |
Ligurian | /ʒ/ | |
Maltese | /ʃ/ | |
Mayan (ALMG) | /ʃ/ | |
Nahuatl | /ʃ/ | |
Nguni | /ǁ/ | |
Norwegian | /ks/ | Archaic |
Occitan | /t͡s/ | Usually |
/s/ | Before consonants | |
/ɡz/ | In the prefix ex- before vowels in the Provençal, Limousin, Auvergnat, Vivaro-Alpine, and Niçard dialects | |
/ɡʒ/ | Before ⟨i⟩ and ⟨u⟩ in the Auvergnat dialect | |
Oromo | /tʼ/ | |
Pirahã | /ʔ/ | |
Polish | /ks ~ gz/ | |
Portuguese | /ʃ/ | Usually, especially word-initially; in words derived from Tupi |
/ks/ | Some words, mainly in learned loanwords | |
/s/ | When preceded by ⟨e⟩ and a consonant; some words | |
/z/ | In the prefix ex- ("ex-") before a vowel | |
/gz/ | In the prefix hexa- ("hexa-") | |
Sardinian | /ʒ/ | |
Sicilian | /ʃ/ | Old Sicilian words and names, e.g. Craxi, Giancaxio |
/k(ə)s(ə)/ | Loanwords | |
Somali | /ħ/ | |
Spanish | /(k)s/ | Usually |
/s/ | Word-initially | |
/ʃ/, /t͡ʃ/,/x/ | In some names and words | |
Swedish | /ks/ | |
Uzbek | /χ/ | |
Venetian | /z/ | Usually |
/s/ | InVenexia "Venice" | |
Vietnamese | /s/ |
InEnglish orthography, ⟨x⟩ is typically pronounced as the voiceless consonant cluster /ks/ when it follows the stressed vowel (e.g. ox), and the voiced consonant /ɡz/ when it precedes the stressed vowel (e.g. exam). It is also pronounced /ɡz/ when it precedes a silent ⟨h⟩ and a stressed vowel (e.g. exhaust).[3]
Due to yod-coalescence, the sequence ⟨xi⟩ before a vowel can be pronounced /kʃ/ resulting from earlier /ksj/, e.g. in -xion(-), -xious(-). Similarly, the sequence ⟨xu⟩ can be pronounced with /kʃ/ (e.g. flexure, sexual) or /ɡʒ/ (inluxury and its derivatives)
Due to NG-coalescence, the sequence ⟨nx⟩ can be pronounced /ŋz/inanxiety.
When ⟨x⟩ ends a word, it is always /ks/ (e.g. fax), except in loan words such as faux (see French, below).
There are very few English words that start with ⟨x⟩ (the fewest of any letter). When ⟨x⟩ does start a word, it is usually pronounced 'z' (e.g. xylophone, xanthan). When starting in some names or as its own representation it is pronounced 'eks', in rare recent loanwords or foreign proper names, it can also be pronounced /s/ (e.g. the obsolete Vietnamese monetary unit xu) or /ʃ/ (e.g. Chinese names starting with Xi like XiaomiorXinjiang). Many of the words that start with ⟨x⟩ are of Greek origin, or standardized trademarks (Xerox) or acronyms (XC).
In abbreviations, it can represent "trans-" (e.g. XMIT for transmit, XFER for transfer), "cross-" (e.g. X-ing for crossing, XREF for cross-reference), "Christ-" (e.g. Xmas for Christmas, Xian for Christian), the "crys-" in crystal (XTAL), "by" (SXSW for South by Southwest) or various words starting with "ex-" (e.g. XL for extra large, XOR for exclusive-or, or the extinction symbol).
X is the third least frequently used letter in English (after ⟨q⟩ and ⟨z⟩), with a frequency of about 0.15% in words.[4]
In Latin, ⟨x⟩ stood for /ks/. In the Romance languages, as a result of assorted phonetic changes, ⟨x⟩ has other pronunciations:
In languages which adopted the Latin alphabet later, ⟨x⟩ is used for various sounds, in some cases inspired by Latin or its descendants, but in others for unrelated consonants. Since the various Romance pronunciations of ⟨x⟩ can often be written in other ways, the letter becomes available for other sounds.
An illustrating example of ⟨x⟩ as a "leftover" letter is differing usage in three different Cushitic languages:
In the International Phonetic Alphabet, ⟨x⟩ represents a voiceless velar fricative.
Preview | X | x | X | x | ||||
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Unicode name | LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X | LATIN SMALL LETTER X | FULLWIDTH LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X | FULLWIDTH LATIN SMALL LETTER X | ||||
Encodings | decimal | hex | dec | hex | dec | hex | dec | hex |
Unicode | 88 | U+0058 | 120 | U+0078 | 65336 | U+FF38 | 65368 | U+FF58 |
UTF-8 | 88 | 58 | 120 | 78 | 239 188 184 | EF BC B8 | 239 189 152 | EF BD 98 |
Numeric character reference | X |
X |
x |
x |
X |
X |
x |
x |
EBCDIC family | 231 | E7 | 167 | A7 | ||||
ASCII 1 | 88 | 58 | 120 | 78 |
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Signal flag | Flag semaphore | American manual alphabet (ASL fingerspelling) | British manual alphabet (BSL fingerspelling) | Braille dots-1346 Unified English Braille |
roman numerals.
In the course of time, I, V and X became identical with three letters of the alphabet; originally, however, they bore no relation to these letters.
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