x

English Online Dictionary. What means x‎? What does x mean?

Translingual

Etymology 1

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.

See also

• (Latin script):  Aa  Bb  Cc  Dd  Ee  Ff  Gg  Hh  Ii  Jj  Kk  Ll  Mm  Nn  Oo  Pp  Qq  Rr  Sſs  Tt  Uu  Vv  Ww  Xx  Yy  Zz
• (Variations of letter X):  Ẍẍ  Ẋẋ  ᶍ  Ｘｘ

Etymology 2

The variable name comes from usage in Spain, as up to the 16th century ⟨x⟩ had the sound value /ʃ/ in Spanish, so was used to transcribe Arabic ش (š) used for the purpose of a variable as an abbreviation of شَيْء (šayʔ, “thing”). Its sound value in Spanish has since then become /x/, which explains the decision made in the circle of the International Phonetic Association to assign this character to the voiceless velar fricative. Compare English hickey (“an object whose name is not recalled; bruise-like mark made during petting by pressing the mouth to the skin”) for the development of the sense of a communicated kiss.

Pronunciation

Symbol

x

1. (IPA) a voiceless velar fricative.

   (superscript ⟨ˣ⟩) [x]-fricated release, [x]-coloring, or a weak, fleeting or epenthetic [x] – see ⟨ˣ⟩.

2. (mathematics) A name for an unknown variable.
3. (mathematics) The first coordinate in Cartesian coordinates, representing horizontal position.
4. Used as a placeholder for a digit or value that may vary.
5. A kiss at the end of a letter, or similar missive.

Usage notes

In the mathematical senses, the term is conventionally rendered in italics, as in, “Solve the equation ${displaystyle x^+x=a}$ for ${displaystyle x.}$”

References

Etymology 3

The multiplication sign is an arbitrary notation developed in the early 17th century.

Symbol

x

1. Alternative spelling of ×

Usage notes

Using x (in upper- or lower-case, italicized or not, and sometimes rotated 90 degrees) to indicate multiplication was common in 17th-century mathematical texts. Today, this usage is considered poor typography, but it is nevertheless common because computer keyboards lack a × key.

References

Etymology 4

Originates in given multiples of the speeds specified in the original CD and DVD standards, then, by reason of the actual unit being without name but just implied by the multiplication sign, reinterpreted as or used as if a unit, considering also that data transfer speed is variable, so that now, bolstered by stylization of the sign in the marketing of manufacturers, either spelling, with the multiplication sign or with the ex borrowed from the iconic mathematical variable sign, seems correct.

Symbol

x

1. (computing) A unit of transfer rate of CD drives, equal to 150 KiB per second.
2. (computing) A unit of transfer rate of DVD drives, equal 1.32 MiB per second.

Further reading

• “What is meant by the speed of a CD or DVD drive?”, in Indiana University: University Information Technology Services Knowledge Base‎^[8], 2018-01-18
• Optical disc drive#Rotational mechanism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• CD and DVD writing speed on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 5

Symbol

x

1. Ⅹ, the Roman numeral ten (10)

Alternative forms

• X, x, Ⅹ, VV, vv

See also

• Previous: ⅸ (nine, 9)
• Next: ⅺ (eleven, 11)

Gallery

• Letter styles

See also

Other representations of X:

English

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (letter name): IPA^(key): /ɛks/

Rhymes: -ɛks

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ks/, /ɡz/, /z/, /kʃ/, /ɡʒ/

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X, plural xs or x's)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, called ex and written in the Latin script.
3. Forming gender-neutral or otherwise more inclusive versions of words, especially Spanish-derived words by replacing both the masculine -o and feminine -a.

   alumnx, Chicanx (Xicanx), Filipinx, Latinx, Mx, mxn, Tejanx, womxn

See also

• -x (as in folx, punx)
• (gender): @

Adjective

x

1. Alternative letter-case form of X (“intersex or non-binary, in passports and identification documents”)

Numeral

x

1. (sometimes humorous) An unknown or unspecified number of.

Conjunction

x

1. (fandom slang) Used between the names of two characters to denote a ship, particularly in anime, manga, and video games.
   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:x.
2. (music) Used in place of and in artist collaborations.

   Taska Black x DROELOE, Steve Aoki x Lauren Jauregui, etc.

Etymology 2

Abbreviations.

Symbol

x

1. (stenoscript) the sound sequence /ɛks/ or /ks/.
2. (stenoscript) the suffix or final sequence /iəs/ (-ious, -eous, -eus)
3. (stenoscript) the suffix or final syllable /ʃəs/ (-tious, -cious, -xious)
4. (stenoscript) the suffix or final syllable /ʃəl/ (-tial, -cial)

See also

• (Latin-script letters) letter; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z
• -x

Afar

Letter

x

1. The eighth letter of the Afar alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, T t, S s, E e, C c, K k, X x, I i, D d, Q q, R r, F f, G g, O o, L l, M m, N n, U u, W w, H h, Y y

Albanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /d͡z/

Letter

x (upper case X, lower case x)

1. The thirty-second letter of the Albanian alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) shkronjë; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, Dh dh, E e, Ë ë, F f, G g, Gj gj, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, Ll ll, M m, N n, Nj nj, O o, P p, Q q, R r, Rr rr, S s, Sh sh, T t, Th th, U u, V v, X x, Xh xh, Y y, Z z, Zh zh
• (Arvanitic) (Greek script letters) Α α, Β β, Ƃ ƅ, Γ γ, Γj γj, Δ δ, D d, Ε ε, Ε̱ ε̱, Ζ ζ, Ζ̇ ζ̇, Θ θ, Ι ι, J j, Κ κ, Κ̇ κ̇, Λ λ, ΛΛ λλ, Λ̇ λ̇, Μ μ, Ν ν, Ν̇ ν̇, Ο ο, Π π, Ρ ρ, Ρ̇ ρ̇, Σ σ, Σ̈ σ̈, Τ τ, Ȣ ȣ, Υ υ, Φ φ, Χ χ, Χ̇ χ̇, ΤΣ τσ, ΤΣ̈ τσ̈, DΣ dσ, DΣ̈ dσ̈

Azerbaijani

Pronunciation

• (phoneme) IPA^(key): /x/

Letter

x lower case (upper case X)

1. The twelfth letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) hərf; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, E e, Ə ə, F f, G g, Ğ ğ, H h, X x, I ı, İ i, J j, K k, Q q, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ö ö, P p, R r, S s, Ş ş, T t, U u, Ü ü, V v, Y y, Z z

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iʃa/, [i.ʃa]

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-fifth letter of the Basque alphabet, called ixa and written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c (Ç ç), D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, Ñ ñ, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ü ü), V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Blin

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ħ/ (/x/ is spelled ⟨kh⟩)

Letter

x (uppercase X)

1. A letter of the Bilen Latin alphabet.

Central Mazahua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃ/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. A letter of the Mazahua alphabet.

Comox

Pronunciation

1. IPA^(key): /x/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. A letter of the Comox alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪks
• (letter name): IPA^(key): /ɪks/

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Dutch alphabet.

See also

• Previous letter: w
• Next letter: y

Esperanto

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. (replacement) The letter that represents a diacritic in the x-system, written after the letter in its non-diacriticked form; it is called ikso.

   ambaŭ → ambaux

Finnish

Etymology

The Finnish orthography using the Latin script was based on Swedish, German and Latin. No earlier script is known. See the Wikipedia article on Finnish for more information, and x for development of the glyph itself.

Pronunciation

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-third letter of the Finnish alphabet, called äks or eks and written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

• Used only in loanwords. In more established loanwords replaced with ks.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) kirjain; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s (Š š), T t, U u, V v (W w), X x, Y y, Z z (Ž ž), Å å, Ä ä, Ö ö

French

Pronunciation

• (letter name) IPA^(key): /iks/

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the French alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Gothic

Romanization

x

1. Romanization of 𐍇

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): [ˈks]
• (letter name): IPA^(key): [ˈiks]

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. A letter of the extended Hungarian alphabet, called iksz and written in the Latin script.

Declension

Derived terms

• x-edik
• x-edszer
• x-lábú
• x-szer

See also

• (Latin-script letters) betű; A a, Á á, B b, C c, Cs cs, D d, Dz dz, Dzs dzs, E e, É é, F f, G g, Gy gy, H h, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, Ly ly, M m, N n, Ny ny, O o, Ó ó, Ö ö, Ő ő, P p, R r, S s, Sz sz, T t, Ty ty, U u, Ú ú, Ü ü, Ű ű, V v, Z z, Zs zs. Only in the extended alphabet: Q q W w X x Y y. Commonly used: ch. Also defined: à ë. In surnames (selection): ä aa cz ds eé eö ew oe oó th ts ÿ.

Further reading

• x in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

Icelandic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xs/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The twenty-seventh letter of the Icelandic alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) bókstafur; A a, Á á, B b, D d, Рð, E e, É é, F f, G g, H h, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ó ó, P p, R r, S s, T t, U u, Ú ú, V v, X x, Y y, Ý ý, Þ þ, Æ æ, Ö ö

Ido

Pronunciation

• (context pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ks/
• (letter name) IPA^(key): /kse/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Ido alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) litero; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Indonesian

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (context pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s, ks/
• (letter name) IPA^(key): /ɛks/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Indonesian alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) huruf; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Etymology 2

Noun

x

1. (text messaging) Abbreviation of kali.

Etymology 3

Unknown.

Suffix

x

1. (text messaging, slang) Abbreviation of -nya.

Synonyms

• ny

Italian

Etymology 1

Letter

x f or m (invariable, lower case, upper case X)

1. the twenty-fourth letter of the Latin alphabet, called ics in Italian

Usage notes

• The letter X is not considered part of the Italian alphabet. It is found mainly in loanwords, Latinisms, and Grecisms.

Etymology 2

The multiplication sign × (which is visually similar to the letter x) is pronounced per in Italian.

Preposition

x

1. (text messaging, slang) Abbreviation of per (“for”).

Usage notes

• This convention is not only used for the preposition but also used within words such as, xké (“perché”), xò (“però”).

Kwak'wala

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /x/

Letter

• x (upper case X)

1. A letter of the Kwak'wala alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Latin

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-third letter of the Latin alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• More information at X.

Malay

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X) (eks)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Malay alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Adverb

x

1. (informal, text messaging, Internet slang) Abbreviation of tak (“not”).

Synonyms

• tidak

Derived terms

• xde (tidak ada, "does not have")
• xpe (tidak apa, "what not")

Maltese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃ/
• IPA^(key): /ʒ/ (by assimilation to a following voiced obstruent)
• In a handful of English borrowings, x represents /ʒ/ also in other positions (compare televixin).

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The twenty-eighth letter of the Maltese alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) ittra; A a, B b, Ċ ċ, D d, E e, F f, Ġ ġ, G g, Għ għ, H h, Ħ ħ, I i, Ie ie, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Ż ż, Z z

Mam

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʂ/

Letter

x (uppercase X)

1. A letter of the Mam alphabet.

Navajo

Pronunciation

1. IPA^(key): /x/, /h/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. A letter of the Navajo alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

The letter ⟨x⟩ is used for the phoneme /x/, but also for /h/ after the letter ⟨s⟩ and elsewhere that an ⟨h⟩ would be ambiguous.

• Appendix:Navajo alphabet

Norwegian

Pronunciation

• (letter name): IPA^(key): /eks/, /ɛks/
• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ks/, /s/

Letter

x

1. The 24th letter of the Norwegian alphabet.

Usage notes

• Only appears in loanwords from e.g. Latin.

Portuguese

Pronunciation

Phoneme:

• IPA^(key): /ʃ/, /ks/, /s/, /z/, /ɡz/

Letter name:

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Portuguese alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) letra; A a (Á á, À à,  â, àã), B b, C c (Ç ç), D d, E e (É é, Ê ê), F f, G g, H h, I i (Í í), J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o (Ó ó, Ô ô, Õ õ), P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ú ú), V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Romani

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /x/

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. (International Standard) The eleventh letter of the Romani alphabet, written in the Latin script.
2. (Pan-Vlax) The twelfth letter of the Romani alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, X x, I i, J j, K k, Kh kh, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Ph ph, R r, S s, T t, Th th, U u, V v, Z z International Standard: (À à, Ä ä, Ǎ ǎ), Ć ć, Ćh ćh, (È è, Ë ë, Ě ě), (Ì ì, Ï ï, Ǐ ǐ), (Ò ò, Ö ö, Ǒ ǒ), Rr rr, Ś ś, (Ù ù, Ü ü, Ǔ ǔ), Ź ź, Ʒ ʒ, Q q, Ç ç, ϴ θ. Pan-Vlax: Č č, Čh čh, Dž dž, (Dź dź), Ř ř, Š š, (Ś ś), Ž ž, (Ź ź).

References

• Yūsuke Sumi (2018), “X, x”, in ニューエクスプレス　ロマ（ジプシー）語 [New Express Romani (Gypsy)] (in Japanese), Tokyo: Hakusuisha, →ISBN, page 13

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ks/, /ɡz/

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-ninth letter of the Romanian alphabet, called ics and written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, Ă ă,  â, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, Πî, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, Ș ș, T t, Ț ț, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Somali

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ħ/

Letter

x (upper case X)

1. The fifth letter of the Somali alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (phoneme) /ks/, /s/, /x/
• IPA^(key): (letter name) /ˈekis/ [ˈe.kis]
  • Rhymes: -ekis
• IPA^(key): (gender-neutral) /e/ [e]
  • Rhymes: -e

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. the 25th letter of the Spanish alphabet
3. (uncommon) forms gender-neutral versions of words by replacing both the masculine o and feminine a

   ‎chicano/chicana → ‎chicanx

   ‎ellos/ellas → ‎ellxs

   ‎latino/latina → ‎latinx

   ‎los/las → ‎lxs

See also

• @

Preposition

x

1. (text messaging, Internet slang) por

Tagalog

Etymology

From Spanish x. Each pronunciation has a different source:

• Filipino alphabet pronunciation is influenced by English x.
• Abecedario pronunciation is from Spanish x.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: x
• (letter name, Filipino alphabet): IPA^(key): /ʔeks/, [ʔɛks]
• (letter name, Abecedario): IPA^(key): /ˈʔekis/, [ˈʔɛ.xɪs]
• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ks/, [ks]
• (phoneme, some Spanish loanwords): IPA^(key): /h/, [h]
• Rhymes: -eks, -ekis

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X, Baybayin spelling ᜁᜃ᜔ᜐ᜔)

1. The twenty-sixth letter of the Tagalog alphabet (Filipino alphabet), called eks and written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

• This letter is mostly used only in proper nouns, unadapted loanwords, or Spanish-based spellings.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) titik; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, Ñ ñ, Ng ng, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X, Baybayin spelling ᜁᜃᜒᜐ᜔)

1. (historical) The twenty-sixth letter of the Tagalog alphabet (Abecedario), called equis or ekis and written in the Latin script.

Further reading

• “x”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2018

Zulu

Letter

x (lower case, upper case X)

1. The twenty-fourth letter of the Zulu alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

• (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z