Words That Begin with the Letter X

Scrabble and word game buffs are always looking for those high-point friends also known as words that start with the letter X. The letter X is the third least common letter in the English language; but, it's easy to find X words if you know where to look.

Words That Start with X

One thing about words that start with X is that they all seem to have a sense of exoticism attached to them. The words in this list cover a wide range of subjects, from chemistry, geography, archeology, to literature.The resources section below will guide you towards comprehensive lists of words that start with X. However, here are a few words to get you started:

• Xanadu (n) - an exotic, luxurious place. This word comes from the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel T. Coleridge.
• Xanax (n) - a pharmaceutical drug that is used to treat depression and anxiety.
• Xanthic (adj.) - yellowish in color; having to do with the compound xanthine.
• Xebec (n) - a small, three-masted sailing ship once commonly used in the Mediterranean.
• Xenolith (n) - a fragment of a rock embedded inside another rock.
• Xenon (n) - a heavy, colorless and odorless gas that is found in very small quantities in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is often used in lasers, vacuu tubes and luminescent tubes for electric lamps.
• Xenophobia (n) - fear or hatred towards foreigners, foreign countries, or anything foreign. Other related words: xenophobic (adj.) and xenophobe (n)
• Xeric (adj.) - dry or desert-like conditions; having very little moisture.
• Xerography (n) - a process to copy documents and pictures.
• Xerox (n) - the patented process for copying documents, and the name of a corporation. The word Xerox should never be used as a synonym for photocopying a document.
• Xhosa (n) -Xhosa is the name of the Bantu language, and a name for a member of the Bantu people of South Africa.
• Xylem (n) - the tubes within the stems of woody plants. The xylem conducts fluids up the plant, while phloem brings the fluids down.
• Xylograph (n) - a wood engraving or an impression from a woodblock.
• Xyloid (adj.) - resembling wood; woody.
• Xylophone (n) - a percussion instrument with a series of graduated wooden bars or metal tubes that is played by stricking with two small mallets.
• XML (n) - a computer language abbreviation for extensible markup language.

Forming Words with the X

To make the sound for the symbol X – eks – the English language most often places a vowel, such as the letter ‘e’, before the X, as in the word “example."

In compound words, the letter X at the beginning of the word (i.e. x-ray) is also pronounced like "eks."

True words that begin with the letter X frequently sound as if they start with the letter Z (i.e. xylophone).

English adopted the letter X from Greek and Etruscan roots. You’ll most often find an X at the start of words with Greek origin. You’ll find the letter X used in other languages too, but mostly preceded by a vowel rather than starting a word.

The letter X is also used in English as a symbolic representation of a kiss. Legend has it that in ancient times, illiterate people signed their names with a cross or an X, and then kissed the signature to indicate that they approve and blessed their signature.

Resources

• WordOver has a huge list of words that begin with X. Click on the word, and you’ll be taken to a page that tells you how many letters are in each word, what words can be formed within the word, and any anagrams that can be made from the word.
• Another good resource for a list of unusual words that begin with X is And Now for Something.
• Crossword Clue Solver provides words that begin with X, so you can finish that crossword puzzle and get some sleep tonight. Many are multiple word phrases, however, which won’t do for Scrabble and other word games.
• For teachers, Teacher Vision includes family activity booklets and printable worksheets for students to learn their alphabet. Enchanted Learning contains two free printable books to learn more about words that begin with X. Illustrations within the booklet invite children to color and create while learning how to spell letters that begin with X.
• ESL teachers can find a free interactive quiz at Leticia Bradley’s website for use with their students.