SpeechSynthesisVoice

This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for the proper prefixes to use in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the spec changes.

The SpeechSynthesisVoice interface of the Web Speech API represents a voice that the system supports. Every SpeechSynthesisVoice has its own relative speech service including information about language, name and URI.

Properties

SpeechSynthesisVoice.default Read only
A Boolean indicating whether the voice is the default voice for the current app language (true), or not (false.)
SpeechSynthesisVoice.lang Read only
Returns a BCP 47 language tag indicating the language of the voice.
SpeechSynthesisVoice.localService Read only
A Boolean indicating whether the voice is supplied by a local speech synthesizer service (true), or a remote speech synthesizer service (false.)
SpeechSynthesisVoice.name Read only
Returns a human-readable name that represents the voice.
SpeechSynthesisVoice.voiceURI Read only
Returns the type of URI and location of the speech synthesis service for this voice.

Examples

The following snippet is excerpted from our Speech synthesiser demo.

function populateVoiceList() {
  voices = synth.getVoices();

  for(i = 0; i < voices.length ; i++) {
    var option = document.createElement('option');
    option.textContent = voices[i].name + ' (' + voices[i].lang + ')';
    
    if(voices[i].default) {
      option.textContent += ' -- DEFAULT';
    }

    option.setAttribute('data-lang', voices[i].lang);
    option.setAttribute('data-name', voices[i].name);
    voiceSelect.appendChild(option);
  }
}

populateVoiceList();
if (speechSynthesis.onvoiceschanged !== undefined) {
  speechSynthesis.onvoiceschanged = populateVoiceList;
}

inputForm.onsubmit = function(event) {
  event.preventDefault();

  var utterThis = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(inputTxt.value);
  var selectedOption = voiceSelect.selectedOptions[0].getAttribute('data-name');
  for(i = 0; i < voices.length ; i++) {
    if(voices[i].name === selectedOption) {
      utterThis.voice = voices[i];
    }
  }
  utterThis.pitch = pitch.value;
  utterThis.rate = rate.value;
  synth.speak(utterThis);

  utterThis.onpause = function(event) {
    var char = event.utterance.text.charAt(event.charIndex);
    console.log('Speech paused at character ' + event.charIndex + ' of "' +
    event.utterance.text + '", which is "' + char + '".');
  }

  inputTxt.blur();
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Speech API
The definition of 'SpeechSynthesisVoice' in that specification.
Draft  

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 33 44 (44) [1] Not supported Not supported Not supported
Feature Android Chrome Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) ? 2.5 Not supported Not supported Not supported
  • [1] Can be enabled via the media.webspeech.synth.enabled flag in about:config.

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: chrisdavidmills
 Last updated by: chrisdavidmills,