French Steps - Pronunciation - '-x'

Pronouncing '-x'

The x at the end of many French words is an indication that the word is plural and it is not sounded (just as the plural 's' is not sounded):

aux cheveux  hair chevaux  horses

aux makes a liaison with the next word if it starts with a vowel:

aux amis

X is pronounced (just like the 'x' in fox) in some place names:

Aix-en-Provence Aix-les-Bains Bruxelles

The pronunciation of x can change however, particularly with the numbers six and dix. The x is not pronounced when followed by a consonant:

six dollars six bouteilles vertes

When it's on its own, the 'x' sounds like the soft 'c' in 'police':

deux et quatre font six trente et quarante font soixante-dix