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.
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.