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French x pronunciation: /ks/ in taxi, /gz/ in examen

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn the two consonant sequences in taxi and examen, sort familiar x words, and keep final x separate with a compact sheet and four questions.

In short

The x in taxi represents /ks/; in examen, it represents /gz/. Say the two consonants in sequence, with no vowel between them. The spelling ex- followed by a vowel often points to /gz/, as in exemple.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An unlettered taxi waiting outside a French examination hall as a student arrives carrying plain books.
A journey brings taxi and examen into context. Illustration: Atelier

La lettre x · two common sequences

1 · /ks/: the pattern in taxi

Keep /k/ and /s/ together. You also meet /ks/ in texte and saxophone. The two consonants add no syllable of their own.

Le taxi arrive à midi.The taxi arrives at noon.

Je lis le texte.I’m reading the text.

2 · /gz/: the pattern in examen

These are the voiced counterparts of /k/ and /s/. Learn examen, exemple and exact as a useful set with ex- before a vowel.

Mon examen commence à neuf heures.My exam starts at nine.

Voici un exemple.Here is an example.

3 · Initial x can also be /gz/

French xylophone starts with /gz/. Keep the /g/ before /z/ when practising the complete word.

Ma sœur joue du xylophone.My sister plays the xylophone.

4 · Final x has its own patterns

Deux ends in a vowel when said alone; deux amis has linking /z/. Some final x letters give /ks/, as in lynx. Learn the ending with its word or phrase.

Nous sommes deux.There are two of us.

Deux amis arrivent.Two friends are arriving.

Study first: keep each complete word
WordPronunciationSound represented by x
taxi/taksi//ks/
texte/tɛkst//ks/
examen/ɛgzamɛ̃//gz/
exemple/ɛgzɑ̃pl//gz/
xylophone/gzilɔfɔn//gz/
lynx/lɛ̃ks//ks/

Four x words to recognise

Try a slow consonant chain first: /k/ then /s/, followed by /g/ then /z/. Next say taxi in two syllables, /tak.si/, and examen in three, /ɛg.za.mɛ̃/. The number of syllables follows the vowel centres. Keep the cluster compact as you put the word into an appointment message: Mon examen commence à neuf heures.

For a new ex- word, look at what follows. Before a consonant, /ks/ is common, as in expression; before a vowel, /gz/ is common, as in examen. A whole-word dictionary pronunciation settles unfamiliar cases. For numbers ending in x, keep a phrase beside the number, because the following word can change the ending you hear.

Question 1No account needed
Which sequence does taxi contain?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

/ks/. Taxi is /taksi/, with /k/ immediately followed by /s/.

Question 2No account needed
Which word uses /gz/?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

examen. Examen is /ɛgzamɛ̃/ and begins with the sequence /ɛgz/.

Question 3No account needed
How many syllables are in taxi /taksi/?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Two.. The vowel centres /a/ and /i/ give taxi two syllables.

Question 4No account needed
What is the linking sound in deux amis?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

/z/. The final x of deux supplies liaison /z/ before amis.

Sources and further reading

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