When t, however, is immediately preceded by s, it preserves the hard sound, as in bastion, question, which are pronounced bas-tion, kès-tion.
X has generally the sound of ks. In all words beginning with x or ex, followed by a vowel, it has the sound of gz, as in Xavier, exil, which are pronounced gzavié, èg-zil. When final, it is joined to the following word, and sounds like z, as in beaux yeux, dix hommes, which are pronounced bô-zieû, dî-zom. X has the sound of ss in Auxerre, Auxonne, and Bruxelles.
FINAL CONSONANTS.
The final consonants that are sounded are b, c, f, k, l, m, q, r.
The final consonants that are not sounded in words which stand alone, or terminate a sentence, are, d, g, h, n, p, r (in the termination er only), s, t, x, z.
J and v are never final.
D is pronounced like t when joined to the following word, as in quand il parle, which must be pronounced kān-til parle.
G is pronounced like k, as in sang impur, which is pronounced sān-kin-pur.
P is pronounced only in Alep, cap, Gap, cep, jalap; and in beaucoup, trop, when those two words come before a vowel. In cep de vigne, the p is silent.
R, preceded by e, is frequently silent in conversation before a vowel, but it must always be sounded in poetry, unless it terminates the verse.