# X

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Twenty-fourth letter of the Latin alphabet

For [technical reasons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Naming_conventions_(technical_restrictions)), ":X" redirects here. For the keyboard symbol, see [List of emoticons](/source/List_of_emoticons).

This article is about the letter. For other uses, see [X (disambiguation)](/source/X_(disambiguation)).

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X X x Usage Writing system Latin script Type Alphabetic and logographic Language of origin Latin language Greek language Sound values [tʼ] [s] [z] [t͡s] [d͡z] [ʃ] [ʒ] [t͡ʃ] [d͡ʒ] [ɕ] [ɖ] [k] [x] [ks] [ɡz] [kʃ] [ɡʒ][1] [χ] [ħ] [h] [ʔ] [ǁ] [∅] In Unicode U+0058, U+0078 Alphabetical position 24 History Development 𐊐 χ 𐌗 X x Time period c. 700 BCE to present Descendants × ⨘ ⨉ ⨯ ✗ ☒ 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.

ISO basic Latin alphabet AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz v t e

**X** ([minuscule](/source/Letter_case): **x**) is the twenty-fourth [letter](/source/Letter_(alphabet)) of the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet), used in the [modern English alphabet](/source/English_alphabet), the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is [*ex*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ex#English) (pronounced [/ˈɛks/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-X.wav)), plural *exes*.[2]

## History

Western Greek Chi Etruscan X Latin X

The letter ⟨X⟩, representing /ks/, was inherited from the [Etruscan alphabet](/source/Etruscan_alphabet). It perhaps originated in the ⟨Χ⟩ of the [Euboean alphabet](/source/Archaic_Greek_alphabets#Euboean) or another Western Greek alphabet, which also represented /ks/. Its relationship with the ⟨Χ⟩ of the Eastern Greek alphabets, which represented /kʰ/, is uncertain.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The pronunciation of /ks/ in the [Romance languages](/source/Romance_languages) underwent [sound changes](/source/Palatalization_in_the_Romance_languages), with various outcomes:

- [French](/source/French_language): /js/ (e.g., *laisser* from *laxare*)[3]

- [Italian](/source/Italian_language): /ss/ (e.g., *asse* from *axem*)[4] and, in some cases, /ʃʃ/ (e.g., *lasciare* from *laxare*)[5]

- [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language): /jʃ/ (e.g., *eixo* from *axem*)[3]

- [Romanian](/source/Romanian_language): /ps/ (e.g., *coapsă* from *coxa*)[4] and /s/ (e.g., *lăsa* from *laxare*)[6]

- [Old Spanish](/source/Old_Spanish): /ʃ/ - [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language): /x/ (e.g., *cuja* from *coxa*) [7]

In Old Spanish, ⟨x⟩ came to represent /ʃ/, which it still represents in most [Iberian languages](/source/Iberian_languages) and in the orthographies of other languages influenced by Spanish, such as [Nahuatl](/source/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](/source/Loanword). In many words, the /ks/ was [voiced](/source/Consonant_voicing_and_devoicing) as /gz/.[8]

## Use in writing systems

Pronunciation of ⟨x⟩ by language Orthography Phonemes Environment Asturian /ʃ/ All environments /s/ In between-vowels, only in learned loanwords, can usually be written as s as well Afar /ɖ/ Albanian /dz/ Azeri /x/ Basque /ʃ/ Catalan /t͡ʃ ~ ʃ/ Usually (word-initially, after consonants) /(j)ʃ/ In the digraph ix /gz/ In the initial groups ex- and inex- followed by vowel, ⟨h⟩ or a voiced consonant /ks/ Between vowels, between a vowel and voiceless consonant and word-finally, after a vowel or consonant Standard Chinese (Pinyin) /ɕ/ Dutch /ks/ Usually, mainly used in loanwords /s/ In Texel English /ks/ Usually; before an unstressed vowel /gz/ Before a stressed vowel /z/ Word-initially /h/ In words derived from other languages, especially Spanish and 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/ In six (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 almost always replaced by the letters 'ks'. However, the letter x does appear in the middle or the end of certain names. Italian /ks/ Mainly used in learned loanwords Kurdish /x/ Lao romanization /s/ A "low consonant", affects the tone of the following vowel 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/ Unused in Polish orthography, except in loanwords. Portuguese /ʃ/ Usually, always when word-initially /ks/ Found between vowels in some words, mainly in those that entered the language recently /s/ When preceded by ⟨e⟩ and succeeded by a consonant /z/ In the prefixes ⟨ex⟩ when before a vowel and ⟨exo⟩ /gz/ Optionally in the prefix hexa-, although most dialects just pronounce this prefix's ⟨x⟩ as /ks/ or /z/ Sardinian /ʒ/ Sicilian /ʃ/ Old Sicilian words and names, e.g. Craxi and 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/ In Venexia, "Venice" Vietnamese /s/

### English

In [English orthography](/source/English_orthography), ⟨x⟩ is typically pronounced as the voiceless [consonant cluster](/source/Consonant_cluster) [/ks/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) when it follows the stressed vowel (e.g. *ox*), and the voiced consonant [/ɡz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) when it precedes the stressed vowel (e.g. *exam*). It is also pronounced [/ɡz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) when it precedes a silent ⟨h⟩ and a stressed vowel (e.g. *exhaust*).[9] Due to [yod-coalescence](/source/Yod-coalescence), the sequence ⟨xi⟩ before a vowel can be pronounced [/kʃ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) resulting from earlier [/ksj/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), e.g. in *-xion(-)*, *-xious(-)*. Similarly, the sequence ⟨xu⟩ can be pronounced with [/kʃ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) (e.g. *flexure*, *sexual*) or [/ɡʒ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) (in *luxury* and its derivatives). Due to [NG-coalescence](/source/NG-coalescence), the sequence ⟨nx⟩ can be pronounced [/ŋz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) in *anxiety*.

When ⟨x⟩ ends a word, it is always [/ks/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) (e.g. *fax*), except in loan words such as *faux*. 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/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) (e.g. the obsolete Vietnamese monetary unit *[xu](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xu)*) or [/ʃ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) (e.g. Chinese names starting with *Xi*, like [Xiaomi](/source/Xiaomi) or [Xinjiang](/source/Xinjiang)). Many of the words that start with ⟨x⟩ are of [Greek](/source/Greek_language) origin, standardized trademarks (*[Xerox](/source/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](/source/Cross-reference)), "Christ-" (e.g. *Xmas* for [Christmas](/source/Christmas), *Xian* for [Christian](/source/Christians)), the "crys-" in crystal (*XTAL*), "by" (*SXSW* for [South by Southwest](/source/South_by_Southwest)), or various words starting with "ex-" (e.g. *XL* for extra large, *XOR* for [exclusive-or](/source/Exclusive_disjunction), or the [extinction symbol](/source/Extinction_symbol)).

X is the [third least frequently used letter](/source/Letter_frequency) in English (after ⟨q⟩ and ⟨z⟩), with a frequency of about 0.15% in words.[10] There are very few English words that start with ⟨x⟩ (the fewest of any letter).

### Romance languages

In Latin, ⟨x⟩ stood for /ks/. In the [Romance languages](/source/Romance_languages), as a result of assorted phonetic changes, ⟨x⟩ has other pronunciations:

- In [Catalan](/source/Catalan_language), ⟨x⟩ has four to three (depending on the dialect) main pronunciations; the most common is /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/ and/or /[t͡ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_affricate)/; as in *xarop* ('syrup'). Others are: /(j)ʃ/ with the digraph ⟨ix⟩: *mateix* ('same'), /ks/; *fixar* ('to fix'), /ɡz/; *examen*. In addition, /(j)ʃ/ (from the digraph ⟨ix⟩) gets voiced to [(j)ʒ] before voiced consonants or vowels; *caixmir* ('kashmir') and *peix espasa* ('sword fish'). Catalan also has the digraph ⟨tx⟩, pronounced /[t͡ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_affricate)/.

- In [Galician](/source/Galician_language) and [Leonese](/source/Leonese_language), ⟨x⟩ is pronounced /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/ in most cases (often used in place of etymological *g* or *j*). The pronunciation /ks/ occurs in learned words, such as *taxativo* (taxing). However, Galician speakers tend to pronounce it /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/, especially when it appears before plosives, such as in *externo* ('external').

- In [French](/source/French_language), ⟨x⟩ usually represents /ks/ or (primarily in words beginning with ex- followed by a vowel) /ɡz/. It is pronounced /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/ in some city names such as *[Bruxelles](/source/Brussels)* (although some people pronounce it 'ks') or *[Auxerre](/source/Auxerre)*; it is nevertheless pronounced /ks/ in [Aix](/source/Aix_(disambiguation)), the name of several towns. At the ends of other words, it is silent (or /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/ in [liaison](/source/Liaison_(French)) if the next word starts with a vowel). Two exceptions are pronounced /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/: *six* ('six') and *dix* ('ten'). It is pronounced /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/ in *sixième* and *dixième*.

- In [Italian](/source/Italian_language), ⟨x⟩ is either pronounced /ks/, as in *extra*, *uxorio*, *xilofono*,[11] or /ɡz/, as in *exogamia*, when it is preceded by ⟨e⟩ and followed by a vowel. In several related languages, notably [Venetian](/source/Venetian_language), it represents the voiced [sibilant](/source/Sibilant) /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/. It is also used, mainly amongst young people, as a short written form for *per* (meaning "for"); for example, *x sempre* ('forever'). This is because in Italian, the [multiplication sign](/source/%C3%97) is called *per*. However, ⟨x⟩ is found only in [loanwords](/source/Loanword), as it is not part of the standard [Italian alphabet](/source/Italian_alphabet); in most words with ⟨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*/*[clacson](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/clacson)*).

- In [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language), ⟨x⟩ has four main pronunciations; the most common is /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/, as in *xícara* ('cup'). The other sounds are: /ks/ as in *flexão* ('flexion'); /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/, when preceded by E and followed by a consonant, as in *contexto* (/[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/ in European Portuguese), and in a small number of other words, such as *próximo* (close/next); and (the rarest) /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/, which occurs in the prefix ⟨ex-⟩ before a vowel, as in *exagerado* ('exaggerated'). A rare fifth sound is /ɡz/, coexisting with /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/ and /ks/ as acceptable pronunciations in *exantema* and in words with the Greek prefix 'hexa-'.

- In [Sardinian](/source/Sardinian_language) and [Ligurian](/source/Ligurian_(Romance_language)), ⟨x⟩ represents /[ʒ](/source/Voiced_postalveolar_fricative)/.

- In [Old Spanish](/source/Old_Spanish), ⟨x⟩ was pronounced /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/, as it is still currently in other [Iberian Romance languages](/source/Iberian_Romance_languages). Later, the sound evolved to a /[x](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)/ sound. In modern [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language), due to a spelling reform, whenever ⟨x⟩ is used for the /[x](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)/ sound it has been replaced with ⟨j⟩, including in words that originally had ⟨x⟩ such as *ejemplo* or *ejercicio*, though ⟨x⟩ is still retained for some names (notably *México*, even though *Méjico* may sometimes be used in Spain). Presently, ⟨x⟩ represents the sound /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/ (word-initially), or the consonant cluster /ks/ (e.g. *oxígeno*, *examen*). Rarely, it can be pronounced /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/ as in Old Spanish in some proper nouns such as *Raxel* (a variant of *[Rachel](/source/Rachel)*) and *[Uxmal](/source/Uxmal)*.

- In [Venetian](/source/Venetian_language), ⟨x⟩ represents the voiced alveolar sibilant /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/, much like in Portuguese *exagerado*, English 'xylophone' or in the French *sixième*. Examples from medieval texts include *raxon* ('reason'), *prexon* ('prison'), *dexerto* ('desert'), and *chaxa* or *caxa* ('home'). Nowadays, the best-known word is *xe* ('is/are'). The most notable exception to this rule is the name *Venexia*, /veˈnɛsja/, in which ⟨x⟩ has evolved from the initial voiced sibilant /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/ to the present-day voiceless sibilant /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/.

### Other languages

In languages which adopted the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_script) 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.

- In [Albanian](/source/Albanian_language), ⟨x⟩ represents /[dz](/source/Voiced_alveolar_affricate)/ while the [digraph](/source/Digraph_(orthography)) ⟨xh⟩ represents /[dʒ](/source/Voiced_postalveolar_affricate)/.

- It represents /[x](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)/ ([voiceless velar fricative](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)) in [Apache](/source/Apache), [Azerbaijani](/source/Azerbaijani_language), [Kurdish](/source/Kurdish_language) (Hawar alphabet), [Georgian](/source/Georgian_language) (when Latinized), [Lojban](/source/Lojban), [Pashto](/source/Pashto) (when Latinized), [Tatar](/source/Tatar_language) (Jaꞑalif, Zamanälif, official romanization of 2012), [Uzbek](/source/Uzbek_language), and [Uyghur](/source/Uyghur_language) ([Latin script](/source/Uyghur_Latin_alphabet)).

- In [Basque](/source/Basque_language), ⟨x⟩ represents /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/. Additionally, the digraph ⟨tx⟩ represents /[tʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_affricate)/.

- In [Hanyu Pinyin](/source/Hanyu_Pinyin), [Standard Chinese](/source/Standard_Chinese)'s official transcription system in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, the letter ⟨x⟩ represents the [voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative](/source/Voiceless_alveolo-palatal_fricative) /[ɕ](/source/Voiceless_alveolo-palatal_fricative)/, for instance in '[Xi](/source/Xi_(surname))', /ɕi/.

- In [Dutch](/source/Dutch_language), ⟨x⟩ usually represents /ks/, except in the name of the island of [Texel](/source/Texel), which is pronounced *Tessel*. This is because of [historical sound-changes in Dutch](/source/Dutch_language#Historical_sound_changes), where all /ks/ sounds have been replaced by /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/ sounds. Words with an ⟨x⟩ in the Dutch language are nowadays usually [loanwords](/source/Loanword). In the [Dutch-speaking part of Belgium](/source/Languages_of_Belgium), [family names](/source/Family_name) with ⟨x⟩ are not uncommon (e.g., *Dierckxa* and *Hendrickx*).

- In [Esperanto](/source/Esperanto), the [x-convention](/source/X-convention) replaces ⟨[ĉ](/source/%C4%88)⟩, ⟨[ĝ](/source/%C4%9C)⟩, ⟨[ĥ](/source/%C4%A4)⟩, ⟨[ĵ](/source/%C4%B4)⟩, ⟨[ŝ](/source/%C5%9C)⟩, and ⟨[ŭ](/source/%C5%AC)⟩ with x-suffixes: ⟨cx⟩, ⟨gx⟩, ⟨hx⟩, ⟨jx⟩, ⟨sx⟩, and ⟨ux⟩.

- In [German](/source/German_language), generally pronounced /ks/; in native words, however, such as *Ochs* or *wachsen*, the cluster /ks/ is often written ⟨chs⟩.

- In transliterations of [Indian languages](/source/Languages_of_India), primarily Indo-Aryan languages, ⟨x⟩ represents the consonant cluster [kʃ] in alternate spellings of words containing क्ष (kṣ), especially names such as [Laxmi](/source/Laxmi) and [Dixit](/source/Dikshit). Less frequently, ⟨x⟩ is used to represent ख़ /[x](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)/.

- In [Lao](/source/Lao_language), based on [romanization of Lao consonants](/source/Romanization_of_Lao#Consonants), ⟨x⟩ represents /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/, while appears to be homophonous with ⟨s⟩, it is a "low consonant" and affects the tone of the following vowel, e.g. in [Lan Xang](/source/Lan_Xang).

- In [Maltese](/source/Maltese_language), ⟨x⟩ is pronounced /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/ or, in some cases, /[ʒ](/source/Voiced_postalveolar_fricative)/ (only in loanwords such as 'televixin', and not for all speakers).

- In [Nahuatl](/source/Nahuatl), ⟨x⟩ represents /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/.

- In [Nguni languages](/source/Nguni_languages), ⟨x⟩ represents the [alveolar lateral click](/source/Alveolar_lateral_click) /[ǁ](/source/Tenuis_alveolar_lateral_click)/.

- In [Norwegian](/source/Norwegian_language), ⟨x⟩ is generally pronounced /ks/, but since the 19th century, there has been a tendency to spell it out as ⟨ks⟩; it may still be retained in personal names, though it is fairly rare, and occurs mostly in foreign words and [SMS language](/source/SMS_language). Usage in [Danish](/source/Danish_language) and [Finnish](/source/Finnish_language) is similar (while [Swedish](/source/Swedish_language), on the other hand, makes frequent use of ⟨x⟩ in native words as well as in loanwords).

- In [Pirahã](/source/Pirah%C3%A3_language), ⟨x⟩ symbolizes the [glottal stop](/source/Glottal_stop) /[ʔ](/source/Glottal_stop)/.

- In [Polish](/source/Polish_language), ⟨x⟩ was used prior to 19th century both in loanwords and native words and was pronounced /ks/ or /ɡz/, e.g., *xiążę*, *xięstwo* (now *książę*, *księstwo*). This was later replaced by ⟨ks⟩ and ⟨gz⟩ in almost all words and remained only in a few loanwords as 'xenia' (*xenien*), surnames as *Axentowicz*, *Rexemowski*, and *Xiężopolski*, names as *Xawery*, and *Xymena*, and abbreviations.

- In [Vietnamese](/source/Vietnamese_alphabet#Consonants), ⟨x⟩ represents /[s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative)/. This sound was [[ɕ](/source/Voiceless_alveolo-palatal_fricative)] in Middle Vietnamese, resembling the Portuguese /[ʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative)/, spelled ⟨x⟩.

An illustrative example of ⟨x⟩ as a "leftover" letter is the differing usage in three different [Cushitic languages](/source/Cushitic_languages):

- [Afar](/source/Afar_language): [voiced retroflex plosive](/source/Voiced_retroflex_plosive) /[ɖ](/source/Voiced_retroflex_plosive)/

- [Oromo](/source/Oromo_language): [alveolar ejective](/source/Alveolar_ejective) /[tʼ](/source/Alveolar_ejective_stop)/

- [Somali](/source/Somali_language): [voiceless pharyngeal fricative](/source/Voiceless_pharyngeal_fricative) /[ħ](/source/Voiceless_pharyngeal_fricative)/

### Other systems

In the [International Phonetic Alphabet](/source/International_Phonetic_Alphabet), ⟨x⟩ represents a [voiceless velar fricative](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative).

## Other uses

Main article: [X (disambiguation)](/source/X_(disambiguation))

- [X mark](/source/X_mark) has a widely accepted meaning of "negative" or "wrong".

- The [Roman numeral](/source/Roman_numeral) X represents the number 10.[12][13]

- In [mathematics](/source/Mathematics), *x* is commonly used as the name for an [independent variable](/source/Independent_variable) or unknown value. The modern tradition of using *x*, *y*, and *z* to represent an [unknown (*incognita*)](/source/Unknown_(mathematics)) was introduced by [René Descartes](/source/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes) in *[La Géométrie](/source/La_G%C3%A9om%C3%A9trie)* (1637).[14] As a result of its use in [algebra](/source/Algebra), X is often used to represent unknowns in other circumstances (e.g. [X-rays](/source/X-rays), *[The X-Files](/source/The_X-Files)*, and *[The Man from Planet X](/source/The_Man_from_Planet_X)*).

- On some [identification documents](/source/Identity_document), the letter X represents a [non-binary gender](/source/Non-binary_gender), where F means female and M means male.[15][16]

- In the [Cartesian coordinate system](/source/Cartesian_coordinate_system), *x* is used to refer to the horizontal axis.

- It is also sometimes used as a [typographic approximation](/source/Typographic_approximation) for the [multiplication sign](/source/Multiplication_sign), ×. In mathematical typesetting, *x* meaning an algebraic variable is normally in [italic type](/source/Italic_type) ( x {\displaystyle x\!} ), partly to avoid confusion with the multiplication symbol. In fonts containing both *x* (the letter) and × (the multiplication sign), the two glyphs are dissimilar.

- It can be used as an abbreviation for 'between' in the context of historical dating; e.g. "1483 x 1485".

- Maps and other images sometimes use an X to label a specific location, leading to the expression "X marks the spot".[17]

- In art or fashion, the use of X indicates a collaboration by two or more artists, e.g. Aaron Koblin x Takashi Kawashima. This application, which originated in Japan, now extends to other kinds of collaboration outside the art world.[18] This usage mimics the use of a similar mark in [denoting botanical hybrids](/source/Hybrid_name_(botany)), for which scientifically the [multiplication ×](/source/Multiplication_sign#Uses) is used, but informally, a lowercase "x" is also used.

- At the end of a letter or other correspondence, '[x](/source/Hugs_and_kisses)' can mean a kiss;[19] the earliest example of this usage cited by the *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)* is from 1878.[20]

- An [X rating](/source/X_rating) denotes media, such as movies, that are intended for adults only.

- In the [Korean language](/source/Korean_language), a series of Xs is used as a visual [bleep censor](/source/Bleep_censor) for subtitles and captions, serving the same role as an [asterisk](/source/Asterisk) (*).[21][22]

- In the [C programming language](/source/C_programming_language), "x" preceded by zero (as in 0x or 0X) is used to denote hexadecimal literal values.

- X is commonly used as a prefix term in nouns related to the [X Window System](/source/X_Window_System) and [Unix](/source/UNIX_System_V).[2]

## Related characters

### Descendants and related characters in the Latin alphabet

- X with [diacritics](/source/Diacritic): [Ẍ ẍ](/source/Diaeresis_(diacritic)) [Ẋ ẋ](/source/%E1%BA%8A) [X̂ x̂](/source/X%CC%82) [ᶍ](/source/%E1%B6%8D)[23]

- [IPA](/source/International_Phonetic_Alphabet)-specific symbols related to X: [χ](/source/Voiceless_uvular_fricative)

- [Teuthonista](/source/Teuthonista) phonetic transcription-specific symbols related to X:[24] - U+AB56 ꭖ LATIN SMALL LETTER X WITH LOW RIGHT RING - U+AB57 ꭗ LATIN SMALL LETTER X WITH LONG LEFT LEG - U+AB58 ꭘ LATIN SMALL LETTER X WITH LONG LEFT LEG AND LOW RIGHT RING - U+AB59 ꭙ LATIN SMALL LETTER X WITH LONG LEFT LEG WITH SERIF

- [ˣ](/source/%CB%A3) : Modifier letter small x is used for phonetic transcription

- ₓ : Subscript small x is used in [Indo-European studies](/source/Indo-European_studies)[25]

### Ancestors and siblings in other alphabets

- Χ χ : [Greek](/source/Greek_alphabet) letter [Chi](/source/Chi_(letter)), from which the following derive: - Ꭓ ꭓ : [Latin chi](/source/Latin_chi) - Х х : [Cyrillic](/source/Cyrillic) letter [Kha](/source/Kha_(Cyrillic)) - Ⲭ ⲭ : [Coptic](/source/Coptic_alphabet) letter Khe, which derives from Greek Chi - 𐍇 : [Gothic](/source/Gothic_alphabet) letter enguz, which derives from Greek Chi - 𐌗 : [Old Italic](/source/Old_Italic_script) X, which derives from Greek Chi, and is the ancestor of modern Latin X - ᚷ : [Runic](/source/Runes) letter [Gyfu](/source/Gyfu), which may derive from old Italic X

- Ξ ξ : Greek letter [Xi](/source/Xi_(letter)), which was used in place of Chi in the Eastern (and the modern) Greek alphabets

## Other representations

### Computing

- U+0058 X LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X

- U+0078 x LATIN SMALL LETTER X

- U+FF38 Ｘ [FULLWIDTH LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X](/source/Halfwidth_and_fullwidth_forms)

- U+FF58 ｘ FULLWIDTH LATIN SMALL LETTER X

### Other

NATO phonetic Morse code Xray ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ⓘ

Signal flag Flag semaphore American manual alphabet (ASL fingerspelling) British manual alphabet (BSL fingerspelling) Braille dots-1346 Unified English Braille

## See also

- [X mark](/source/X_mark) – Symbol with multiple meanings

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** as in the [English](/source/English_Language) word [*lu**xu**rious*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/luxurious)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) "X", *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)*, 2nd edition (1989); *Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged* (1993); "ex", *op. cit*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-barbato_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-barbato_3-1) Barbato, Marcello (2022). ["The early history of Romance palatalizations"](https://oxfordre.com/linguistics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001/acrefore-9780199384655-e-750). *Oxford Research Encyclopedias*. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.750](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facrefore%2F9780199384655.013.750). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-938465-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-938465-5).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-repetti_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-repetti_4-1) Repetti, Lori (2016). "Palatalization". In Ledgeway, Adam; Maiden, Martin (eds.). *The Oxford guide to the Romance languages*. Oxford University Press. p. 667. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199677108.001.0001](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780199677108.001.0001). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-967710-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-967710-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Baglioni, Daniele (2014). "Il nesso GN dal latino alle lingue romanze: Questioni aperte e prospettive di ricerca". In Molinelli, Piera; Cuzzolin, Pierluigi; Fedriani, Chiara (eds.). [*Actes du Xᵉ colloque international sur le latin vulgaire et tardif*](https://www.academia.edu/8165249). Bergamo University Press. p. 10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Sala, Marius (1976). [*Contributions à la phonétique historique du roumain*](https://archive.org/details/contributionsala0000sala). Paris: Klincksieck. pp. 171–185. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-2-252-01894-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-2-252-01894-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Mackenzie, Ian (1999–2022). ["The linguistics of Spanish"](https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/i.e.mackenzie/index.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Allen, W. Sidney (1965). *Vox Latina: A Guide to the Pronunciation of Classical Latin*. Cambridge University Press. pp. 112–113. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-08227-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-08227-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Venezky1970_9-0)** Venezky, Richard (1 January 1970). [*The Structure of English Orthography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Mrt_G_RrJykC&pg=PA5). [The Hague](/source/The_Hague): Walter de Gruyter. p. 40. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-11-080447-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-11-080447-8). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170427105102/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mrt_G_RrJykC&pg=PA5) from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_10-0)** Mička, Pavel. ["Letter frequency (English)"](http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English). *Algoritmy.net*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210304152631/http://en.algoritmy.net/article/40379/Letter-frequency-English) from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia"](http://www.dizionario.rai.it) [Dictionary of Spelling and Pronunciation]. *Dizionario di ortografia e pronunzia* (in Italian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180416110248/http://www.dizionario.rai.it/) from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Gordon, Arthur E. (1983). [*Illustrated Introduction to Latin Epigraphy*](https://archive.org/details/illustratedintro0000gord). University of California Press. p. [44](https://archive.org/details/illustratedintro0000gord/page/44). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780520038981](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520038981). Retrieved 3 October 2015. roman numerals.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** King, David A. (2001). [*The Ciphers of the Monks*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PapljPXaSbwC&q=roman%20numerals%20letters&pg=PA282). Franz Steiner Verlag. p. 282. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783515076401](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783515076401). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210104092429/https://books.google.com/books?id=PapljPXaSbwC&q=roman%20numerals%20letters&pg=PA282) from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2020. 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.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Cajori, Florian (1928). [*A History of Mathematical Notations*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_byqAAAAQBAJ&q=unknown&pg=PA380). Chicago: Open Court Publishing. p. 381. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780486161167](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780486161167). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210413173747/https://books.google.com/books?id=_byqAAAAQBAJ&q=unknown&pg=PA380) from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2020. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date)) See [History of algebra](/source/History_of_algebra#The_symbol_x).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Science_as_Culture_15-0)** Holme, Ingrid (2008). "Hearing People's Own Stories". *Science as Culture*. **17** (3): 341–344. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/09505430802280784](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F09505430802280784). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [143528047](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:143528047).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nzpass_16-0)** ["New Zealand Passports - Information about Changing Sex / Gender Identity"](http://www.passports.govt.nz/Transgender-applicants). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140923055123/http://www.passports.govt.nz/Transgender-applicants) from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["X marks the spot"](http://www.dictionary.com/browse/x-marks-the-spot). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160604015834/http://www.dictionary.com/browse/x-marks-the-spot) from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["X: Mark of Collaboration - Issue No. 0053X - Arkitip, Inc"](http://arkitip.com/product/x-mark-of-collaboration-issue-no-0053x/). *arkitip.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160517184918/http://arkitip.com/product/x-mark-of-collaboration-issue-no-0053x/) from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Epstein, Nadine (7 October 2020). ["A whole lot of history behind 'x' and 'o', kiss and hug"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-whole-lot-of-history-behind-x-and-o-kiss-and-hug/2014/02/13/0c3e218a-9341-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180401143406/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-whole-lot-of-history-behind-x-and-o-kiss-and-hug/2014/02/13/0c3e218a-9341-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html) from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** "[X, n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/230945) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210312083617/https://oed.com/view/Entry/230945) 12 March 2021 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)" *OED Online* (Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2022), §6. Accessed 11 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["'찐따', 'X랄하다'...욕도 전통을 가진다?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240118155129/https://www.goeonair.com/news/article.html?no=13845) ['loser', 'fXing'... swear words also have a tradition?]. *www.goeonair.com* (in Korean). Archived from [the original](https://www.goeonair.com/news/article.html?no=13845) on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** 참바다 (15 January 2021). [*시사칼럼 우리 시대의 상징과 은유*](https://books.google.com/books?id=XX4WEAAAQBAJ&dq=%EC%9A%95+X&pg=PA6-IA1) (in Korean). e퍼플. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [979-11-6569-712-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/979-11-6569-712-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Constable, Peter (19 April 2004). ["L2/04-132 Proposal to add additional phonetic characters to the UCS"](https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2004/04132-n2740-phonetic.pdf) (PDF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171011014355/http://www.unicode.org/L2/L2004/04132-n2740-phonetic.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Everson, Michael; Dicklberger, Alois; Pentzlin, Karl; Wandl-Vogt, Eveline (2 June 2011). ["L2/11-202: Revised proposal to encode "Teuthonista" phonetic characters in the UCS"](https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2011/11202-n4081-teuthonista.pdf) (PDF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171011012426/http://www.unicode.org/L2/L2011/11202-n4081-teuthonista.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Anderson, Deborah; Everson, Michael (7 June 2004). ["L2/04-191: Proposal to encode six Indo-Europeanist phonetic characters in the UCS"](https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2004/04191-n2788-laryngeals.pdf) (PDF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171011014402/http://www.unicode.org/L2/L2004/04191-n2788-laryngeals.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

## External links

- Media related to [X](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/X) at Wikimedia Commons

- The dictionary definition of [*X*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/X) at Wiktionary

- The dictionary definition of [*x*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/x) at Wiktionary

- ["X"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_American_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_(1879)/X). *[The American Cyclopædia](/source/The_American_Cyclop%C3%A6dia)*. 1879.

v t e Latin script History Spread Romanization Roman numerals Ligatures Alphabets (list) Classical Latin alphabet ISO basic Latin alphabet Phonetic alphabets International Phonetic Alphabet X-SAMPA Spelling alphabet Letters (list) Letters of the ISO basic Latin alphabet Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz Additional Latin letters Æ æ Ɑ ɑ Ʌ ʌ Ꞵ ꞵ Ð ð Ɛ ɛ Ə ə Ǝ ə Ɣ ɣ Ƣ ƣ Ɩ ɩ Ɥ ɥ Ꟛ ꟛ Ŋ ŋ Œ œ Ɔ ɔ Ɤ ɤ Kʼ ĸ Ʀ ʀ ẞ ß Ʃ ʃ Ɯ ɯ Ʊ ʊ Ꞷ ꞷ Ʋ ʋ Ƿ ƿ Ȝ ȝ ϴ θ Ʒ ʒ Ƹ ƹ Þ þ Ȣ ȣ Ꭓ ꭓ Ɂ ʔ ɂ ꟎ ʕ ꟏ ǀ ǁ ǂ ǃ ʘ ʻ ʼ Ꞌ ꞌ Ƨ ƨ Ꜫ ꜫ Ꜭ ꜭ Ƽ ƽ Ƅ ƅ 7 Letter X with diacritics X́x́ X̂x̂ Ẍẍ X̌x̌ Ẋẋ X̧x̧ X̱x̱ X̣x̣ ᶍ Multigraphs Digraphs Ch Dz Dž Gh IJ Lj Ll Ly Nh Nj Ny Sh Sz Th Trigraphs dzs eau Tetragraphs ough Keyboard layouts (list) QWERTY QWERTZ AZERTY Dvorak Colemak BÉPO Neo Historical standards ISO/IEC 646 Western Latin character sets Current standards Unicode DIN 91379: Unicode subset for Europe Lists Precomposed Latin characters in Unicode Letters used in mathematics, science, and engineering List of typographical symbols and punctuation marks Diacritics Palaeography

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

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