How to Pronounce X-ray

To pronounce "x-ray", say XRAY — one syllable. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

x-ray

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying x-ray, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

Syllable

Letters

XRAY

Say it like

💡 Tip for remembering “x-ray”

"x-ray" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with convey and display, if that helps it stick.

What does x-ray mean?

noun

Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects and can expose photographic film.
“X-rays are light with a wavelength between 0.1 and 10 nm.”
A radiograph: a photograph made with X-rays.
“"The doctor ordered some X-rays of my injured wrist."”

verb

To take a radiograph of; to obtain an image of using X-ray radiation, especially for the purpose of medical diagnostic evaluation.
“Of course there was nothing wrong with my left wrist. They X-rayed the wrong arm!”

Synonyms

Roentgen radiation Rontgen radiation Röntgen radiation Roentgen rays Rontgen rays Röntgen rays X-ray radiation

Words that rhyme with x-ray

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

convey display dismay sobriquet disarray allay gay decay play portray cache fray

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "x-ray"?▾

"X-ray" has one syllable.

What does "x-ray" mean?▾

X-ray: Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects and can expose photographic film.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “x-ray” in the full dictionary →