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SSML Reference

Resemble accepts Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) so you can precisely control pronunciation, pacing, and style. Punctuation is handled automatically, but SSML tags unlock finer control such as emphasizing a word, spelling out acronyms, or inserting pauses.

Supported Elements

ElementRequiredSummary
<speak>YesRoot element for all SSML input.
Inline tagsNoInsert vocal expressions such as pauses, laughs, or breaths at a specific point.
Wrapping tagsNoModify the delivery style of an enclosed span of text.
<say-as>NoInterpret content as characters, numbers, etc.
<sub>NoSubstitute alternate text for pronunciation.
<lang>NoSwitch the language mid-utterance (voice must support it).
<resemble:convert>NoPerform speech-to-speech conversion against an input file.

<speak> Root Element

1<speak version="1.1"></speak>
AttributeDescription
versionSSML spec version. Defaults to 1.1.
xml:langLocale for the root document (e.g. en, en-US).
xmlnsXML namespace. Defaults to http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/REC-speech-synthesis11-20100907/synthesis.xsd.
temperatureControls generation randomness (0.1–5.0). Defaults to 0.8.
exaggerationEmotion intensity (0.0–1.0).
seedOptional deterministic seed (non-negative integer).

Inline Tags

Inline tags are placed at a specific point in the text to produce a vocal expression, such as a laugh, pause, or breath. They use square brackets and do not wrap any text.

1<speak>
2  So I walked in and [pause] there it was. [laugh] I honestly could not believe it!
3</speak>

Pauses

TagDescription
[pause]Insert a natural pause.
[long-pause]Insert a longer pause.

Laughter & Crying

TagDescription
[laugh]A full laugh.
[chuckle]A short, low laugh.
[giggle]A light, playful laugh.
[cry]A crying sound.

Mouth Sounds

TagDescription
[hum-tune]Hum a short tune.
[tsk]A “tsk” sound of disapproval.
[tongue-click]A tongue click.
[lip-smack]A lip smack.

Breathing

TagDescription
[breath]An audible breath.
[inhale]An audible inhale.
[exhale]An audible exhale.
[sigh]A sigh.

Place inline tags where the expression would naturally occur in conversation, and combine them with punctuation for the most natural results.

Wrapping Tags

Wrapping tags enclose a section of text to modify its delivery style, such as whispering or singing. Wrap complete phrases rather than individual words.

1<speak>
2  I need to tell you something. <whisper>It is a secret.</whisper> Pretty cool, right?
3</speak>

Volume & Intensity

TagDescription
<soft>Speak softly.
<whisper>Whisper the enclosed text.
<loud>Speak loudly.
<build-intensity>Gradually increase intensity across the enclosed text.
<decrease-intensity>Gradually decrease intensity across the enclosed text.
<emphasis>Emphasize the enclosed text.

Pitch & Speed

TagDescription
<higher-pitch>Raise the pitch.
<lower-pitch>Lower the pitch.
<slow>Speak slowly.
<fast>Speak quickly.

Vocal Style

TagDescription
<sing-song>A melodic, sing-song delivery.
<singing>Sing the enclosed text.
<laugh-speak>Speak while laughing.

Wrapping tags can be nested to combine styles:

1<speak>
2  <slow><soft>Goodnight, sleep well.</soft></slow>
3</speak>

<say-as>

Spell out characters or indicate alternate interpretation.

1<speak>
2  This <say-as interpret-as="characters">SSML</say-as> stuff is really cool.
3</speak>

AttributeDescription
interpret-asSupported type: characters (spells each character).

<sub>

1<speak>Hi <sub alias="Joe">Jim</sub>, we are calling today to inform you of your account activation with Resemble.</speak>

AttributeDescription
aliasReplacement text spoken instead of the enclosed text.

<lang>

Switch the language mid-stream if the voice supports it.

1<speak>
2  Su vuelo a <lang xml:lang="en-US">Pearson International Airport</lang> partirá en 30 minutos.
3</speak>

AttributeDescription
xml:langBCP 47 locale (see table below).
LanguageCode
Afrikaans – South Africaaf-za
Amharic – Ethiopiaam-et
Arabic – United Arab Emiratesar-ae
Arabic – Egyptar-eg
Arabic – Iraqar-iq
Arabic – Kuwaitar-kw
Arabic – Moroccoar-ma
Arabic – Qatarar-qa
Arabic – Saudi Arabiaar-sa
Azerbaijani – Azerbaijanaz-az
Bulgarian – Bulgariabg-bg
Bengali – Bangladeshbn-bd
Bengali – Indiabn-in
Bosnian – Bosniabs-ba
Catalan – Spainca-es
Mandarin – Chinacmn-cn
Czech – Czech Republiccs-cz
Danish – Denmarkda-dk
German – Germanyde-de
Greek – Greeceel-gr
English – Australiaen-au
English – Canadaen-ca
English – United Kingdomen-gb
English – Hong Kongen-hk
English – Irelanden-ie
English – Indiaen-in
English – Kenyaen-ke
English – New Zealanden-nz
English – Singaporeen-sg
English – United Statesen-us
English – South Africaen-za
Spanish – Argentinaes-ar
Spanish – Chilees-cl
Spanish – Colombiaes-co
Spanish – Costa Ricaes-cr
Spanish – Cubaes-cu
Spanish – Dominican Republices-do
Spanish – Ecuadores-ec
Spanish – Spaines-es
Spanish – Mexicoes-mx
Spanish – Perues-pe
Spanish – Puerto Ricoes-pr
Spanish – Paraguayes-py
Spanish – United Stateses-us
Spanish – Venezuelaes-ve
Estonian – Estoniaet-ee
Basque – Spaineu-es
Persian – Iranfa-ir
Finnish – Finlandfi-fi
Filipino – Philippinesfil-ph
French – Belgiumfr-be
French – Canadafr-ca
French – Switzerlandfr-ch
French – Francefr-fr
Irish – Irelandga-ie
Gujarati – Indiagu-in
Hebrew – Israelhe-il
Hindi – Indiahi-in
Croatian – Croatiahr-hr
Hungarian – Hungaryhu-hu
Armenian – Armeniahy-am
Indonesian – Indonesiaid-id
Icelandic – Icelandis-is
Italian – Italyit-it
Japanese – Japanja-jp
Javanese – Indonesiajv-id
Kazakh – Kazakhstankk-kz
Khmer – Cambodiakm-kh
Kannada – Indiakn-in
Korean – South Koreako-kr
Lithuanian – Lithuanialt-lt
Latvian – Latvialv-lv
Malayalam – Indiaml-in
Mongolian – Mongoliamn-mn
Marathi – Indiamr-in
Malay – Malaysiams-my
Maltese – Maltamt-mt
Burmese – Myanmarmy-mm
Norwegian – Norwaynb-no
Nepali – Nepalne-np
Dutch – Belgiumnl-be
Dutch – Netherlandsnl-nl
Punjabi – Indiapa-in
Polish – Polandpl-pl
Pashto – Afghanistanps-af
Portuguese – Brazilpt-br
Portuguese – Portugalpt-pt
Romanian – Romaniaro-ro
Russian – Russiaru-ru
Sinhala – Sri Lankasi-lk
Slovak – Slovakiask-sk
Slovenian – Sloveniasl-si
Somali – Somaliaso-so
Albanian – Albaniasq-al
Serbian – Serbiasr-rs
Swedish – Swedensv-se
Swahili – Kenyasw-ke
Tamil – Indiata-in
Tamil – Sri Lankata-lk
Tamil – Malaysiata-my
Telugu – Indiate-in
Thai – Thailandth-th
Turkish – Turkeytr-tr
Ukrainian – Ukraineuk-ua
Urdu – Pakistanur-pk
Vietnamese – Vietnamvi-vn
Chinese – Chinazh-cn
Chinese – Hong Kongzh-hk
Chinese – Taiwanzh-tw
Cantonese – Chinayue-cn
Zulu – South Africazu-za

<resemble:convert>

Performs speech-to-speech using a donor recording.

Maximum file size: 50 MB, maximum duration: 300 seconds. Files exceeding either limit are trimmed.

1<speak>
2  <resemble:convert src="https://storage.googleapis.com/resemble-ai-docs-public-files/resemble_sts_donor_audio.wav" />
3</speak>

Original Audio

Converted Audio


AttributeDescription
srcHTTPS URL pointing to a WAV file with a single speaker.
pitchOptional float between -10.0 and 10.0 to transpose the output.
promptPrimer text to steer delivery (e.g. "Speak in a British accent."). Place prompt directly on the <resemble:convert> tag.

Prompting with Speech-to-Speech

For speech-to-speech conversion, place the prompt attribute directly on the <resemble:convert> tag:

1<speak>
2  <resemble:convert
3    src="https://storage.googleapis.com/resemble-ai-docs-public-files/resemble_sts_donor_audio.wav"
4    prompt="Speak in a British accent." />
5</speak>

The prompt will guide how the donor audio is converted to the target voice, allowing you to adjust accent, tone, or delivery style.