# Jewish/Hebrew "X" Marks the Spot

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147 "2014-08-09T05:07:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147/21 "2014-08-11T14:44:32Z")

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> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> […]
> 
> Actually, X, as the Greek letter Chi, is [heavily associated with Christianity as an image of the cross and also the first letter in the Greek word for Christ](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho). \*\* where we get the X in “Xmas”.\*\*
> 
> […]

Oh, quit talking like Stan Freberg! 😃

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**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147/22 "2014-08-11T16:10:22Z")

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> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> It’s not universal by any means, but generally people can recognize the letters by sight and give the name and a rough pronunciation.

I would be willing to bet large sums of money that at least 90% of American English speakers could not name or roughly pronounce half or more of the Greek alphabet by sight. 98% if you eliminate folks with a college-level math/science/engineering background.

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147/23 "2014-08-11T16:44:01Z")

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I could make an attempt to pronounce the names with the sounds of modern Greek, but the “g” sound in gamma is kinda hard…

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147/24 "2014-08-12T06:49:28Z")

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> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> Actually, X, as the Greek letter Chi, is [heavily associated with Christianity as an image of the cross and also the first letter in the Greek word for Christ](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho). It’s also where we get the X in “Xmas”.

True - I’m still asking where is the evidence that this was a _problem_ for Jews.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-hebrew-x-marks-the-spot/695147/25 "2014-08-12T07:52:21Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Two crossed lines is just the right tool for the job for marking a specific location, since they intersect at a point. Three lines means you need to be more precise in your marking to make sure all three meet at the same spot, and doesn’t give you any extra benefit. All that’s left is to decide the orientation of your two lines, whether they’re a + or an x.

True. If you’re triangulating from two bearings, then X naturally marks the spot.

With three bearings, you get a [cocked hat](http://www.working-the-sails.com/fixing_a_position.html), rather than crossed lines.

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