PRONOUNCING THE SPANISH X



Due to regional preferences, there probably aren't any rules that hold true throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In general, however, when between vowels (as in exactamente) the Spanish x is pronounced basically like the English "ks" sound but softer, sometimes even like the "gs" sound in "eggs." When it comes before another consonant (as in expedición), it has the S sound in some areas but the soft "ks" sound in others. In some areas, the letter's pronunciation before a consonant varies from word to word. The only way to know for sure is to listen to someone speaking with the regional accent you wish to emulate.

When a word begins with x (there aren't many such words, and most are English cognates), it is usually given the S sound, not the Z sound of English.

In some Mexican place names, indeed in the name of México itself, the x is pronounced the same as the Spanish letter j.

Making matters more confusing is that in a few words of Catalan, Basque or indigenous American origin the x is pronounced like the English "sh." This is especially common in southern Mexican and Central American place names.

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Spanish Pronunciation