Choose the Perfect Voice for Your Practice
Learn how to select and test different voices to find the one that works best for your spelling practice
Why Voice Settings Are Important
The voice you choose affects how clearly you hear and understand words. Different voices have:
- • Different accents - British, American, or Australian English
- • Different genders - Some learners prefer male or female voices
- • Different clarity - Some voices pronounce certain sounds more clearly
- • Different pacing - Natural rhythm and flow varies between voices
Open Voice Settings
In the app, click the "Voice Settings" tab in the left sidebar (marked with a gear icon ⚙️).
This opens the Voice Settings page where you can see all available voices and test them.
See Your Current Voice
At the top of the page, you'll see a highlighted box showing your "Current Default Voice".
This box shows:
- ✓ Voice name - Like "Olivia - English (United Kingdom)"
- ✓ Voice description - Gender and country (e.g., "UK English Female")
- ✓ Country icon - Color-coded: Blue (UK), Red (US), Green (Australia)
- ✓ Test Voice button - Click to hear a sample
💡 Tip: This is the voice that will be used throughout the app in Practice and Review modes.
Browse All Available Voices
Below the current voice, you'll see voices organized by country/region in separate sections:
English (United Kingdom)
British English voices with UK pronunciation and accent
English (United States)
American English voices with US pronunciation and accent
English (Australia)
Australian English voices with Australian pronunciation and accent
Each section shows all voices available for that region on your device.
Featured Voices
The app gives friendly names to the most popular Google voices:
Olivia - English (United Kingdom)
UK English Female • Clear British accent • Great for standard UK spelling
Smith - English (United Kingdom)
UK English Male • Strong British pronunciation • Alternative to female voice
Sophia - English (United States)
US English Female • American accent • Ideal for US spelling conventions
Note: Other voices from Microsoft, Apple, and Google may also be available depending on your device and browser.
Test a Voice Before Selecting
Every voice has a "Test" button. When you click it:
Why Testing Is Important:
- Hear the accent and pronunciation style
- Check if the voice is clear enough for you
- Compare multiple voices before choosing
- Make sure the voice works (some may not be installed on your device)
💡 Pro Tip: Test 3-4 different voices and pick the one that sounds clearest to you. Children often prefer certain genders or accents!
Select Your Preferred Voice
Once you've tested a voice and like it, click the "Select" button next to it.
What Happens When You Select a Voice:
1. It becomes your default voice
This voice will now be used in Practice, Review, and all word playback
2. It's saved automatically
Your choice is remembered even after you close the browser
3. The display updates
The voice moves to the "Current Default Voice" box at the top and gets a checkmark ✓
4. The Select button disappears
Only the "Test" button remains since it's already selected
Note: You can change your voice anytime. Just select a different one and it will immediately become the new default!
Understanding Voice Information Cards
Each voice is shown in a card with important information:
Person Icon (Color-Coded)
- • Blue = United Kingdom voice
- • Red = United States voice
- • Green = Australian voice
Voice Name
Like "Olivia - English (United Kingdom)" or the technical name for other voices
Test Button
Gray button to hear a sample of the voice
Select Button / Checkmark
Purple button to choose this voice. If already selected, shows a checkmark instead
Which Voice Should You Choose?
🇬🇧 Choose UK Voices If:
- You're learning British English spelling
- Your school uses UK curriculum
- You want to hear British pronunciation (like "schedule" = "SHED-yool")
- You're in the UK, Europe, or Commonwealth countries
🇺🇸 Choose US Voices If:
- You're learning American English spelling
- Your school uses US curriculum
- You want to hear American pronunciation (like "schedule" = "SKED-yool")
- You're in the United States
🇦🇺 Choose Australian Voices If:
- You're in Australia or New Zealand
- Your school uses Australian curriculum
- You prefer Australian accent and pronunciation
💡 Remember: There's no "wrong" choice! Pick whichever voice sounds clearest and most comfortable to you or your child.
Troubleshooting Voice Issues
❓ "No voices available" message
Solution:
- • Check your browser settings and enable text-to-speech
- • Try a different browser (Chrome, Edge, and Safari work best)
- • Update your browser to the latest version
❓ Voice doesn't play when I click "Test"
Solution:
- • Check your device volume is turned up
- • Make sure your browser has permission to play audio
- • Try a different voice to see if it's voice-specific
❓ Only a few voices are showing
Solution:
- • This is normal! Different devices have different voices installed
- • Mobile devices typically have fewer voices than computers
- • Some operating systems have more built-in voices (Windows, Mac, Chrome OS)
❓ My selected voice isn't being remembered
Solution:
- • Make sure cookies/local storage is enabled in your browser
- • Don't use private/incognito mode (settings won't save)
- • Clear browser cache and try selecting the voice again
✨ Best Practices for Voice Selection
- • Test multiple voices: Don't just pick the first one—compare 3-4 to find your favorite
- • Match your curriculum: Use UK voices for British spelling, US voices for American spelling
- • Ask your child: Let them choose—they'll be more engaged with a voice they like!
- • Change when needed: Switch voices if one gets boring or for variety in practice
- • Clarity over familiarity: Pick the voice that pronounces words most clearly, not just the one that sounds "normal"