Confusing, right?

令人困惑，對嗎？

In this video, you're going to learn the different sounds we use to pronounce the letter X.

在這個視頻中，你將學習我們用來發音字母X的不同聲音。

So you'll feel totally comfortable pronouncing words with this letter.

所以你會覺得用這個字母發音完全舒服。

Every once in a while, I get a question from someone about the X sound.

每隔一段時間，我就會收到有人關於X音的提問。

And I have to say, there is no X sound in American English.

而且我不得不說，美式英語中沒有X音。

We have the letter X but let's take a look at what sounds that letter actually represents.

我們有了字母X，但我們來看看這個字母到底代表什麼音。

There are four different ways this letter can be pronounced.

這個字母有四種不同的發音方式。

First, we'll go over those pronunciations, then we'll go over the most common words with the letter X

首先，我們先來看看這些發音，然後我們再來看看最常見的帶字母X的字詞

and which pronunciation those words have.

以及這些詞有哪些讀音。

First, let's go over the two most common pronunciations.

首先，我們先來看看最常見的兩種發音。

In each of these words, the letter X makes two different sounds.

在這些單詞中，每一個字母X都會發出兩種不同的聲音。

The word extra.

詞外。

Before I tell you what sounds are there, I want you to listen and see if you can guess.

在我告訴你有什麼聲音之前，我想讓你聽一聽，看你能不能猜出來。

Extra.

額外。

Extra.

額外。

Now, I'm going to slow it down and exaggerate.

現在，我要放慢腳步，誇大其詞。

Extra.

額外。

Extra.

額外。

Extra.

額外。

Kkk. Ssss.

Kkk：Ssss。

K and S.

K和S。

That's the unvoiced version of this pronunciation.

這就是這個發音的無聲版。

Extra.

額外。

Now we don't pronounce them with the separation.

現在我們不念它們的分離。

K is a stop consonant, ek- ek-.

K是停頓輔音，ek- ek-。

Did you hear how my voice abruptly stopped?

你聽到我的聲音突然停止了嗎？

Ek-- It wasn't ehh--

Ek -- 這不是ehh --

That's because of the K. You lift the back of the tongue to the soft palate.

那是因為K的緣故，你把舌背抬到軟顎。

Ekk-- And that cuts off of the air, it cuts off the sound.

Ekk -- 而這切斷了空氣， 它切斷了聲音。

Now, rather than pulling down the tongue by itself, ekk-- kk-- kk--

現在，而不是自己把舌頭拉下來，ekk -- kk -- kk --

Rather than making that full K sound, you instead go right into the S.

你沒有發出那個完整的K音，而是直接進入S音。

Ekk-- sss--- ksss---

Ekk -- sss -- sss --

So when you pull your tongue down in the back, the front of your tongue, the front of your mouth

所以，當你把舌頭往後拉的時候，舌頭的前部，口腔的前部

is already in position for the S sound.

已經是S音的位置了。

Ekkkksss---

Ekksss---

So when you release the air, release the tongue, everything's ready to go

所以當你放出空氣，放出舌頭，一切都準備好了。

for the S and the S sound is made.

為S，併發出S音。

For the S, the teeth are together and the tip of the tongue is either pressing the back of the bottom front teeth,

對於S型，牙齒併攏，舌尖或壓住下前牙的後部。

or it can point up a little bit.

或者可以點上一點。

Sssss.

Sssss。

Sssss.

Sssss。

Practice just the KS sounds with me.

和我一起練習KS音就可以了。

Front of the mouth is in position for the S, and bring the back of the tongue up to the soft palate.

口前的位置為S，並將舌後部上提至軟顎。

Let air build up and release it by bringing the back of the tongue down.

讓空氣積聚，將舌後部向下釋放。

Kksss.

Kksss.

Kksss.

Kksss.

Kksss.

Kksss.

Kksss. Kksss. Kksss.

Kksss.Kksss.Kksss.

Let's put it into the word 'extra' slowly.

我們把它慢慢地放到'額外'二字中去。

Extra.

額外。

Extra.

額外。

kss-- kss-- kss--

KSS -- KSS -- KSS --

That's the unvoiced pronunciation.

那是無聲的發音。

But there's also a voiced pronunciation like in the word 'exam'.

但也有像 "考試 "一詞中的有聲讀音。

The letter X still represents two sounds here.

字母X在這裡仍然代表兩個音。

What sounds are you hearing now?

你現在聽到的是什麼聲音？

Exam.

考試。

I'll pronounce it slowly.

我慢慢唸吧。

Eeggggg-- zzz-- eggzzaam.

Eeggggggg -- zzz -- eggzzaam。

G and Z.

G和Z。

Those are the voice versions of K and S so everything about the position is the same,

這些都是K和S的語音版本，所以關於位置的一切都一樣。

but rather than releasing air, ksss, ksss, you release a voiced sound, gzz, gzzz, gzzz.

但你不是釋放空氣，ksss，ksss，而是釋放聲音，gzz，gzzz，gzzz。

Exam.

考試。

Exam.

考試。

You know what I find interesting about these two pronunciations

你知道我覺得這兩個發音有什麼有趣的地方嗎？

is that there's a syllable break between the two sounds that this one letter X makes.

就是這一個字母X發出的兩個音節之間有一個音節的中斷。

Exam.

考試。

Exam.

考試。

So the Z sound starts the stressed syllable.

所以Z音是強調音節的開始。

Exam.

考試。

The word 'except'.

'除'字。

The S sound starts the stressed syllable.

S音開始強調音節。

Except.

除了。

Okay, so those are the two most common pronunciations.

好了，這就是兩種最常見的發音。

What are the other two pronunciations of the letter X?

字母X的另外兩個發音是什麼？

It can be a Z sound.

可以是Z音。

This happens in two cases.

這種情況發生在兩種情況下。

First, when it starts a word.

首先，當它開始一個詞。

Two examples: Xanthan.

兩個例子。Xanthan.

You may know this word because it's a common ingredient in processed foods.

你可能知道這個詞，因為它是加工食品中的常見成分。

Xanthan.

Xanthan.

Z sound.

Z音。

Xenophile.

嗜異者。

Someone who loves foreign cultures, people, or customs.

熱愛外國文化、民族或習俗的人。

Z sound. zz-- zz--

Z音，ZZ--ZZ--

Xenophile.

嗜異者。

This is X at the beginning of a word.

這是一個詞的開頭的X。

At the end of a word, it can also be a Z sound.

在一個詞的末尾，也可以是Z音。

These are words that we've borrowed from French.

這些都是我們從法語中借來的詞。

The combination EAUX and we may keep the French spelling with the X at the end

EAUX的組合，我們可以保留法文的拼寫，最後加X。

but we use the American pronunciation.

但我們用的是美式發音。

They're plurals so we add a Z sound.

他們是複數，所以我們加了一個Z音。

For example, the word 'beau'.

比如，"美 "字。

A sweetheart, a male sweetheart.

一個甜心，一個男甜心。

Maybe you have lots of Beau's.

也許你有很多博的。

For the spelling of the plural, we may write an S or we may write an X.

對於複數的拼寫，我們可以寫一個S，也可以寫一個X。

Both are acceptable in American English.

在美式英語中，兩者都可以接受。

But both are pronounced with the American English rules which is a Z sound at the end.

但兩者的發音都是用美式英語的規則，也就是末尾的Z音。

It can be a little confusing.

這可能會讓人有些困惑。

It can also be silent at the end of a few words.

也可以在幾個字的結尾處沉默不語。

I'm thinking of the word 'faux' which is another way of saying fake.

我想到的是 "假的 "這個詞，這是假的另一種說法。

My coat is faux fur not real fur.

我的大衣是人造皮草，不是真的皮草。

Also in the word 'Bordeaux' where we kind of use the French pronunciation.

也是在'波爾多'這個詞中，我們算是用了法語的發音。

Also in 'roux' again, a word borrowed from French, a mixture of fat and flour to thicken sauces.

也是在'rou'中再次出現，這個詞是從法語中借來的，是脂肪和麵粉的混合物，用來勾芡醬汁。

Faux.

錯了

Bordeaux.

波爾多。

Roux.

紅髮。

The letter X is silent.

字母X是沉默的。

But the most common pronunciations of the letter X are KS or GZ.

但字母X最常見的發音是KS或GZ。

I've gathered some words for each category and I found something interesting.

我收集了一些每一類的詞語，我發現了一些有趣的東西。

Something interesting happens with the word 'sex' which, let's face, it is an interesting word anyway.

一些有趣的事情發生在 "性 "這個詞上，讓我們面對現實，無論如何，這是一個有趣的詞。

So we'll go over that when we get to it.

所以，我們到時候再來討論這個問題。

But first, I need your help.

但首先，我需要你的幫助。

Almost every example I came up with where the sound is voiced, GZ looks the same.

幾乎我想到的每一個例子，凡是有聲音的地方，GZ看起來都是一樣的。

EX and then the rest of the word.

EX，然後剩下的字。

I can't tell if I can't think of any more because I'm so focused on that or if there just aren't many more.

我不知道是因為我太專注於此，所以想不起來了，還是說根本就沒有多少了。

So please put any words you can think of where the letter X makes the GZ sounds in the comments below.

所以請你把你能想到的字母X發出GZ音的單詞放在下面的評論中。

Here's my list.

這是我的清單。

Repeat out loud and remember, in each word, X is GZ.

大聲重複，記住，每個字中，X是GZ。

Gzzz. Gzz.

Gzzz。Gzz.

Alexander

亞歷山大

Exact

準確

Exactly

就是這樣

Exalt

高舉

Exam

考試

Examine

檢驗

Example

例子

Executive

行政

Exert

施加

Exhibit

展品

Exile

流亡

Exist

存在

Existence

存在

Exit

退出

Exude

散發

Now for words where the letter X makes the unvoiced sounds, KS, kssss.

現在對於字母X發出未發聲的單詞，KS，kssss。

We'll talk about sex when we get to it in this list.

我們在這個列表中談到性的時候再談。

Affix

綴號

Apex

Apex

Axe

斧頭

Axel

阿克塞爾

Axis

軸線

Box, Boxes, Boxer.

盒子，盒子，拳擊手。

Boxy

盒子

Coax

同軸

Complex

複雜

Crux

十字架

Dexterity

靈活性

Equinox

春分

Excel

Excel

Except

除了

Ex's

Ex's

Expect

預期

Expel

驅逐

Experience

經驗介紹

Expo

博覽會

Expression

表達方式

Extent

程度

Fax

傳真機

Fix

修復

Fixed

固定

Fixer

修繕工

Flax

亞麻

Flex

撓性

Flexible

靈活性

Fox

狐狸

Foxes

狐狸

Foxy

狐狸

Hexagon

六角形

Hoax

騙局

Ibex

伊壁鳩魯

Index

索引

Jinx

金克斯

Latex

乳膠

Lux

奢侈品

Linx

林克斯

Max

最大

Maxi

Maxi

Maximum

最多

Mexico

墨西哥

Mix

混合

Mixer

攪拌器

Mixed

混合型

Next

下一個

Nix

尼克斯

Nixed

Nixed

Onyx

縞瑪瑙

Ox

牛

Oxen

牛

Oxide

氧化物

Pixel

像素

Pixie

小精靈

Pox

痘痘

Proxy

代理人

Sax

薩克斯

Saxophone

薩克斯管

Sex

性

Okay, let's listen.

好吧，讓我們來聽聽。

Sex

性

Sexy

性感

Sexist

性別歧視

Sexual

性生活

Sexual

性生活

Sexuality

性行為

So with the word 'sex'.

'性'字也是如此。

Something changes when it's followed by U, like in: sexual, sexuality, bisexual, sexualized.

當後面跟上U的時候，有些東西就會發生變化，比如在：性、性慾、雙性戀、性化。

Now, instead of KS, the sounds we get are KSH.

現在，我們得到的聲音不是KS，而是KSH。

Ksshh.

Ksshh。

Kkk-sshh.

Kkk -sshh。

Sexual.

性的。

So sex, sexy, we still have KS.

所以性，性感，我們還有KS。

But as soon as it's followed by U, sexual, sexual.

但只要後面跟著U，性，性。

It changes.

它的變化。

We now have KSH.

我們現在有KSH。

Sexual.

性的。

And actually, I thought of one other word.

其實，我還想到了一個詞。

The word 'luxury' this is also different.

'奢'字這也是不同的。

It's just like 'sexual' only it's voiced, so it's G and then ddjjzz.

這就像'性'一樣，只是它的聲音，所以它的G，然後ddjjzz。

Lugg-- there's the G, lugggjjzz, gggjjzz, gggjjzz, gggjjzz and there's the gggjjzz sound.

Lugg -- 有G，lugggjjzz，ggggjjzz，ggggjjzz，ggggjjzz，還有ggggjjzz的聲音。

Luxury.

豪華。

Luxury.

豪華。

I couldn't come up with any other words with this pronunciation.

我想不出有什麼其他的詞可以用這個發音。

If you can think of any words where the letter X makes the ggjjzz sounds,

如果你能想到有什麼單詞是字母X發出ggjjzz的聲音的。

definitely put those words in the comments below.

一定要把這些話放在下面的評論裡。

You've learned a lot about the letter X today and also about English.

今天你學到了很多關於字母X的知識，也學到了很多英語知識。

You've learned that in English, any one letter can be pronounced various different ways.

你已經知道了在英語中，任何一個字母都可以有不同的發音方式。

And you can't necessarily tell by looking at it.

而且你看了也不一定能看出來。

This is why phonetics are so important.

這就是為什麼語音學如此重要。

Understanding the symbols we use for sounds rather than trying to think in terms of letters.

理解我們用來表示聲音的符號，而不是試圖用字母來思考。

How familiar are you with the International Phonetic Alphabet?

你對國際拼音字母表有多熟悉？

I've made a series of videos that goes over the symbols you need to know for American English,

我做了一系列視頻，介紹了美式英語需要知道的符號。

and this can be really helpful when looking up a word and trying to figure out the pronunciation.

而這在查找一個單詞並試圖弄清其發音時真的很有幫助。

Click here now or in the description below to start learning these important symbols.

現在點擊這裡或在下面的描述中開始學習這些重要的符號。

What other words can you think of with an X and what pronunciation does the letter X have in those words?

你還能想到哪些帶X的詞語，字母X在這些詞語中的發音是什麼？

Put them in the comments below so everyone can learn even more words with the letter X.

把它們放在下面的評論中，這樣大家就可以學習到更多帶字母X的單詞。

That's it and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.

就這樣，非常感謝大家使用瑞秋英語。