speak
The speak CSS property sets whether or not text should be spoken. It is useful when you need more deliberate control over presentation or behavior in a focused part of the interface.
Overview
The speak CSS property sets whether or not text should be spoken. It is useful when you need more deliberate control over presentation or behavior in a focused part of the interface.
Browser support
| Feature | Desktop | Mobile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Safari iOS | |
speak | ≤80 | ≤80 | | | ≤80 | |
1+Supported (version) Not supported ※Has note Sub-feature descriptions sourced from MDN Web Docs (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Notes 2 item(s)
Limitation
- This browser only partially implements this feature
Implementation note
- The implementation is not compliant with the specification, see bug 40813740.
Notes 2 item(s)
Limitation
- This browser only partially implements this feature
Implementation note
- The implementation is not compliant with the specification, see bug 40813740.
Notes 2 item(s)
Limitation
- This browser only partially implements this feature
Implementation note
- The implementation is not compliant with the specification, see bug 40813740.
Syntax
CSS
.decorative {
speak: none;
}
.acronym {
speak: spell-out;
}Live demo
Use cases
Refine text rhythm
Use speak to make long-form reading or dense interface copy easier to scan and understand.
Support language nuances
Apply speak when different writing systems or typographic conventions need more deliberate control.
Cautions
- Test speak in the browsers you support, especially if it changes layout, text handling, or interaction behavior.
- Plan a fallback or acceptable degradation path when support is still limited.
Accessibility
- Check readability with zoom, narrow screens, and mixed-language content so text remains understandable.
Related links
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