-x

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See also: Appendix:Variations of "x"

English

Etymology 1

Suffix

-x

  1. Used to represent a value that may vary: see x.
    I teach all of the 30x classes. (referring to classes numbered 301, 302, 303, etc)

See also

  • x (as in Latinx, etc)

Etymology 2

X is prototypically pronounced in English; it therefore serves as a convenient shorthand for the digraphs (cs, ks, etc.) or trigraphs (cks etc.) that would otherwise represent that consonant cluster.

Pronunciation

Suffix

-x

  2. (chiefly US, informal) Used to replace a /ks/ sound, especially in monosyllabic words ending in -cks or -ks.
    clox (“clocks”), folx (“folks”), hax (“hacks”), pix (“pics”), punx (“punks”), snax (“snacks”), sox (“socks”)

See also

Etymology 3

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “perhaps modelled after Rx (“prescription”) < ℞ < Latin recipe?”

Suffix

-x

  1. An abbreviation marker.
    Dx (“diagnosis”), elex (“election”), Hx (“history”), pax (“passenger”), RX (“receive”), TX (“transmit”)

Etymology 4

From the use of x as a neutral or nonspecific placeholder.

Suffix

-x

  2. (neologism) Used to replace a gendered suffix, such as in alumnx, Chicanx, Latinx.

French

Etymology

From a medieval ligature for -us, which looked similar to the letter x and was ultimately treated as identical to it. Thus Old French voyeus (“vowel”) was also spelt voyex, for instance. Later on the u was reinserted before the -x and this latter thus became an alternative spelling of -s in said position.

Pronunciation

  • Silent, except in liaison environments, when it may be pronounced /z‿/. This liaison is usual in adjectives, but fairly rare in nouns.

Suffix

-x

  1. Used to form the regular plurals of nouns and adjectives in -au and -eu.
    dieu → dieux ― god → gods
    noyau → noyaux ― core → cores
    hébreu → hébreux ― Hebrew → Hebrews
  2. Used to form the irregular plurals of a few nouns in -ou (which regularly add -s).
    pou → poux ― louse → lice

Derived terms

Category French terms suffixed with -x not found

See also

References

  1. ^ A.H. Edgren: A compendious French grammar, Boston, 1890, p. 31

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic شَيْء (šayʔ, “thing”). The same negation suffix is found in most North African and some Levantine dialects of Arabic.

Suffix

-x

  1. Used together with the particle ma to negate verbs and adverbs
    jikteb → ma jiktibx
    he writes → he doesn’t write
  2. Used on its own or with the particle la to express a negated imperative
    tikteb → tiktibx or: la tiktibx
    you write → don't write

Usage notes

  • A suffixed -x, etymologically from the same Arabic noun as the above, also occurs in a handful of Maltese words without a negative meaning, e.g. kollox (“everything”), aktarx (“rather, probably”).

Portuguese

Suffix

-x

  1. (nonstandard, neologism, informal) a gender-neutral, normally not pronounced suffix that replaces -o and -a in nouns, adjectives and pronouns
    Synonym: -e
    Somos todxs um. ― We are all one.

Spanish

Suffix

-x m or f by sense (noun-forming suffix, plural -xs)
-x m or f (adjective-forming suffix, masculine and feminine plural -xs)

  2. (nonstandard, neologism) a gender-neutral suffix that replaces -o and -a in nouns, adjectives and pronouns
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