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Is Xmas a Greek abbreviation?
What is Xmas abbreviation?
What does X mean in Xmas?
What does Xmas mean in English?
What is the Greek abbreviation for Christ?
How did X become a Christmas abbreviation?
Here’s a holiday surprise that only the dictionary can provide. Do you find the word Xmas, as an abbreviation for Christmas, offensive? Many people do, but the origin of this controversial term might change your mind! You won’t find Xmas in church songbooks or even on many greeting cards.
Dec 14, 2014 · In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christos (Christ) begins with the letter “X,” or chi. Here’s what it looks like:
It is sometimes pronounced / ˈɛksməs /, but Xmas, and variants such as Xtemass, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation / ˈkrɪsməs /. The 'X' comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Christós (Greek: Χριστός, translit.
Dec 23, 2022 · Whenever English borrowed a Greek word with the letter “χ”, the sound would always be written as “ch” but pronounced as a “k”. You might have noticed that the Greek letter “χ” looks like our letter “X”. Hence, people have used the abbreviation “Xmas” for “Christmas” since at least the year 1755.
Nov 9, 2021 · Like many words in the English language, Xmas has its origins in Greek. The Greek word for Christ is Christós, and the first letter of Christós is Chi. Written in the Greek alphabet, Chi is Χ. Over time, X became an abbreviation for Christ, and Christmas became Xmas.
- Kate Miller-Wilson
- Staff Writer
- admin@yourdictionary.com
The letter ‘X’ in Xmas is derived from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christós), meaning ‘Christ‘ or ‘Anointed One.’ This abbreviation can be traced back to the early Christian era, when Greek was the dominant language of the Eastern Mediterranean world.
Oct 8, 2017 · Chi is written as an 'X' and Rho is written as a 'P', but they are the first two letters of the Greek word Christ 'savior'. 'XP' is sometimes used to stand for Christ. Sometimes 'X' is used alone. This is the case in the Chi (X) abbreviation for Christ in Xmas.
