To make the /ks/ sound: /ks/ is a consonant cluster made of two sounds, /k/ and /s/. It is often spelled with the letter “x.” Non-native speakers of English sometimes drop one of the two sounds (usually the /k/) in this cluster, which may cause the original word to sound like a different word. This cluster usually occurs following a vowel sound. To pronounce /ks/, begin by lifting the back of your tongue and pressing it against your soft palate (the top of the back of your mouth). Push air from your throat, stopping it briefly behind your tongue, before releasing the air. As you release it, lift the tip of your tongue so it is very close to (but not completely touching) the top of your mouth, behind your teeth. Force the air between the tip of your tongue and the roof of your mouth. You should feel some resistance (friction).