Onomatopoeia x

November 26, 2008 9:19 AM

Onomatopoeia for letter X

I'm writing a book and need an onomatopoeia word for the letter "X". Googling has got me nowhere. Any literary types out there that could help me out? Thanks!

posted by Penelope to writing & language (14 comments total)

ecks?
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:23 AM on November 26, 2008

Are you asking for an onomatopoetic phrase that includes the letter X? Or starts with one?
posted by Class Goat at 9:27 AM on November 26, 2008

As a verb? How'bout "ixed", or "ecksed", or even "kissed", or "kssed"?
posted by laumry at 9:29 AM on November 26, 2008

Does this word need to be a normal dictionary? There's a large number of words that only appear in comic books, most of which are onomatopoeia. The source to check is KA-BOOM! A Dictionary of Comic Book Words, Symbols & Onomatopoeia.

You can browse the first few pages at Google Books, which has, for example, Blikx: the sound made by a punch to the nose.

Some of these words may have only appeared once in all of comicdom, drawing into question their status as "real" words.
posted by justkevin at 9:36 AM on November 26, 2008

I am looking for one that starts with "X". Think i'm out of luck, but thanks for your ideas. : )
posted by Penelope at 9:39 AM on November 26, 2008

Not entirely sure what you're looking for here. Could you give your examples for A and B?
posted by tkolar at 9:41 AM on November 26, 2008

Xap?
posted by mikepop at 9:58 AM on November 26, 2008

I've always thought of "xerox" as onomatopoeic, but maybe that's just me.

*beep* Xeeeeerox, xeeeeerox....
posted by NMcCoy at 10:04 AM on November 26, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Have you flicked through Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn? It's a very clever book about letters, told through letters, and his 'X' words might prove to be inspirational.
posted by woodway at 10:30 AM on November 26, 2008

Xuxa! It's the sound of exuberant demi-nudity.
posted by kittyprecious at 11:25 AM on November 26, 2008

I think you're going to have to go "Teen Girl Squad" on this one an pick a word that's not actually an onomatopoeia, and just run with it.

"Xylophoned!"
posted by hwyengr at 12:54 PM on November 26, 2008

Xing!
posted by mendel at 1:41 PM on November 26, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Xhosa (one of the two dominant South African tribes, and its language). The x is pronounced as a back click: [click]-hosa.

You can probably use one of the many words in that language onomatopoeically; e.g., the Xhosa name for some African animal.
posted by Araucaria at 3:08 PM on November 26, 2008

Since we're sashaying into foreign languages here, X is Chinese sounds like "sh," so maybe run with that and see where it takes you.

Has Strong Bad ever started one of his -ed words with an X? You know... (Arrow'd! Two'd! 404'd!) Would that count?

What about just "X'd" or "X'd out!"?
posted by ostranenie at 9:38 PM on November 26, 2008