How do you pronounce an x in French?

Answer 1

The basic pronunciation of the letter x is the same as English -- "ks". For example, the French taxe sounds basically the same as the English tax. The French x can also become voiced if it is between two vowel sounds, in which case it sounds like "gz". This also happens in English. For example, the first parts of exaggerate and exagérer sound the same. Here are some more examples:

exemple -- "egg-zah[n]pl"

examen -- "egg-zah-meh[n]"

fixe -- "feeks"

axe -- "ahks"

axiome -- "ahk-syohm"

oxygène -- "ohk-see-zhen"

Of course, just like other consonants, if an x is at the end of the word, it is not pronounced. When you use an x to make a liaison, it is pronounced like a z. For example:

de nombreux animaux -- "duh noh[n]-bruh zah-nee-moh"

Finally, the name of the letter x is pronounced "eeks".

Answer 2

In French, the pronunciation of the letter 'x' can vary depending on the word. It is generally pronounced as a voiceless velar fricative sound [ks] at the end of a word or before a consonant. However, when 'x' is in the middle of a word or followed by a vowel, it is often pronounced as a voiced velar fricative sound [gz].