[en] Transition-metal x-ray-emission spectra, corresponding to transitions between the 3s level and the L_3,2 core holes, are studied. The spectra are synthesized from a superposition of two Lorentzian functions, where the relative weighting of the Lorentzians is calculated based on the assumptions of various models for the core-hole widths. For a model in which the true lifetime of the L₃ hole is given by gas-phase calculations, and the additional Coster-Kronig width of the L₂ hole is determined from existing photoemission data, excellent agreement is obtained with experimental x-ray spectra obtained by Hanzely. The disagreement between calculated and experimental total L₃ hole widths is therefore due to ''non-lifetime'' contributions to the L₃ and L₂ core widths in 3d transition metals