Letter X: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
X is the 24th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after W and before Y. X is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is X and the small (lowercase) letter is x.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter X at a Glance
| Position | 24th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | X x |
| Comes between | W and Y |
| Main sounds | ks, z, its name, ex |
| Strokes to write it | Capital X: 2 · small x: 2 |
How to Write Capital X and Small x
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital X (2 strokes)
- Draw a slanted line from the top left to the bottom right.
- Draw a slanted line from the top right to the bottom left, crossing the first line in the middle.
Small x (2 strokes)
- Make the same crossing shape, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line.
Small x is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: X is easy to write because it is just two crossing lines, but children can mix up lowercase x with the plus sign. In x, both lines are slanted.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter X Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write X and x alone.
What Sound Does X Make?
- ks: at the end of a word, X usually says ks. Examples: box, fox, six, wax.
- z: at the start of a few words, X says z. Examples: xylophone, xylem.
- its name, ex: in X-ray, X says its own name. Examples: X-ray.
Practice the sound with pictures on X is for Xylophone, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words With X
X is for Xylophone! Here are more X words:
X also appears in the middle or at the end of words: box, fox, six, taxi, mix.
Interesting Facts About X
- Very few English words start with X, which is why X words for kids are usually words that end with X, like box and fox.
- X is used in math to mean multiply, and on maps to mark a spot.
Quick Quiz: Letter X
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before X?
W.
What sound does x make at the end of box?
ks.
What sound does x make at the start of xylophone?
z.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Draw a big "X marks the spot" on the floor with tape and hide a small treasure nearby for a mini scavenger hunt. Then let children take turns playing a toy xylophone, listening for its X-starting name.
At Home
Since X is rare at the start of words, focus on X at the end instead — find pictures of a fox and a box around the house, pointing out the "ks" sound both words share. Afterward, trace the letter X together, two crossing diagonal lines.
Tips
Parents: Don't stress about finding lots of "starts with X" words — most kids' phonics programs teach X mainly through ending sounds, like box and fox, since those are far more common.
Teachers: X is a great letter for a simple treasure-hunt theme — "X marks the spot" is a natural, memorable hook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is X in the alphabet?
X is the 24th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after W and before Y.
Is X a vowel or a consonant?
X is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter X make?
X makes these sounds: ks as in box; z as in xylophone; its name, ex as in X-ray.
How do you write a small x?
Make the same crossing shape, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line. Small x is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words with X?
Only a few words start with X, such as xylophone, X-ray, xylem. More often X comes at the end: box, fox, six, taxi, mix.
Why are there so few words that start with X?
English has very few native words with X at the start. Most of them, like xylophone, came from Greek, where they start with the z sound.
Summary
X is the 24th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are ks, z, its name, ex. Capital X takes 2 strokes and small x takes 2. Next, learn the letter Y.