Mastering the /ks/ Sound in American English: Why It Matters (and How to Get It Right)

The /ks/ sound might just be one of the most deceptive sounds in English. It’s hidden in plain sight—spelled as cc, ks, x, and even ex. And while it’s just two simple consonants, this little sound combo causes a lot of confusion for both native and non-native speakers.

So why is this sound so tricky? And how can you improve your pronunciation for clearer, more confident communication?

Let’s break it down.

🔊 What Is the /ks/ Sound?

The /ks/ sound is a consonant cluster—two consonants that appear side-by-side. You’ll hear it in common words like:

• Box

• Books

• Accent

• Explain

• Oxygen

It’s often spelled as:

• CC (like in success, accent, vaccine)

• KS (like in books, picks, forks)

• X (like in box, relax, oxygen)

• EX (like in explain, except, exterior)

🤔 Why Is It So Important?

The /ks/ sound adds crispness and clarity to your speech. When it’s dropped or mispronounced, it can cause confusion or even change the meaning of a word entirely.

Common issues:

• ESL/L2 speakers often drop part of the cluster, especially at the ends of words (e.g., saying book instead of books).

• Native speakers sometimes rush through it too quickly, especially in fast or casual speech.

In both cases, the result is the same: reduced clarity, and the risk of sounding like you're making a grammar mistake—even if you're not.

💡 Pronunciation Tips for the /ks/ Sound

1. When It’s Spelled as CC

Look for cc followed by e or i. This usually signals the /ks/ sound. Examples:

• Success

• Accent

• Vaccine

🟡 Pro tip: Break it into syllables when practicing.
Example: suc-cess → suck-sess → success

Beware of exceptions like flaccid, where “cc” is just /s/.

2. When It’s Spelled as KS

This shows up often at the end of words, especially in plurals:

• Books

• Picks

• Forks

🔔 Don’t drop the final /s/—it’s easy to do, but this small detail can affect grammar and meaning.

3. When It’s Spelled as X

That single “x” is doing a lot of work! It often stands for /ks/ in words like:

• Box

• Relax

• Oxygen

🎯 Practice tip: Say the word slowly first, then blend the sounds together as you speed up.
Example: ox-y-gen → okss-y-gen → oxygen

4. When It’s Part of the Prefix EX-

Here’s the rule:

• If ex- is followed by a consonant, it’s /ks/:
  except, explain, exterior

• If ex- is followed by a vowel, it becomes /gz/:
  example, exotic, exist

🗣️ Practice Sentences (Shadow and Repeat)

Try practicing these full phrases out loud for real-world fluency:

• She got her flu vaccine last week.

• We need more oxygen tanks for the lab.

• Can you explain that one more time?

• Let’s just relax and binge-watch some Netflix tonight.

🎯 Final Tip: Make the Vowel Work for You

If you ever stumble over a consonant cluster like /ks/, try lengthening the vowel before it. This gives your mouth a moment to adjust and recover—without breaking your flow.

Example:

I can accept any suggestions…
Draw out “can” or “any” to give yourself extra time to pronounce the following consonants clearly.

✅ One Last Fun Fact

The words accept and except are pronounced exactly the same in spoken English. Why? Because the first syllable is unstressed and reduced, making both words sound identical. Context is the only way to tell them apart!

Try this sentence:

Every student will accept the new policy, except those who are excluded for specific reasons.

👇 Ready to Practice?

Want a full guided lesson with pronunciation drills and shadowing exercises?

🎥 Watch the full video here:

And if you’re an ESL teacher, SLP, or coach looking to learn how to teach this and other sounds clearly…

📚 Check out our Accent Specialist Certification Program:
https://www.theaccentchannel.com/accentinstructor