SpeechSynthesis.getVoices()

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The getVoices() method of the SpeechSynthesis interface returns a list of SpeechSynthesisVoice objects representing all the available voices on the current device.

Syntax

speechSynthesisInstance.getVoices();

Parameters

None.

Return value

A list (array) of SpeechSynthesisVoice objects.

Note: The spec wrongly lists this method as returning as a SpeechSynthesisVoiceList object, but this was in fact removed from the spec.

Example

JavaScript

function populateVoiceList() {
  if(typeof speechSynthesis === 'undefined') {
    return;
  }

  var voices = speechSynthesis.getVoices();

  for(var 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);
    document.getElementById("voiceSelect").appendChild(option);
  }
}

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

HTML

<select id="voiceSelect"></select>

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Speech API
The definition of 'getVoices()' in that specification.
Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
getVoices
Experimental
Chrome Full support 33Edge Full support 14Firefox Full support 49IE No support NoOpera Full support 21Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support 4.4.3Chrome Android Full support 33Firefox Android Full support 62
Full support 62
No support 61 — 62
Disabled
Disabled From version 61 until version 62 (exclusive): this feature is behind the media.webspeech.synth.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support 7Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.

See also