Better Pronunciation for Your Voice Agent
Does your voice agent struggle with pronouncing company names, technical terms, or web addresses? You can now customize how your voice agent pronounces specific words, making conversations more natural and professional.Where to Find This Feature
- Navigate to your Voice Channel settings
- Go to the Voice tab
- Click the Fine-tune Pronunciation button
You can access this directly at:
armin.cx/app/[organization]/channels/phone/[channel-id] and
select the Voice tabHow It Works
You can define custom pronunciations in two ways:1. Alias Method (Recommended for Beginners)
Replace words with phonetic spellings that sound right. This is perfect for:- Company names
- Acronyms
- Web addresses
- Special symbols
@→atNGINX→Engine-XCEO→Chief Executive Officerhttps://→H T T P S colon slash slash.com→dot com
2. Phoneme Method (Advanced)
Use International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) notation for precise pronunciation control. This is ideal when the alias method doesn’t quite capture the right sound. Examples:WhatsApp→/wɒtsˈæp/Kubernetes→/ˌkuːbərˈneɪtiːz/
Need help with phonemes? Use the IPA Generator link in the dialog to
convert words to phonetic notation.
Step-by-Step Guide
Adding a Pronunciation Rule
- Select Language: Choose the language group your voice agent uses
- Click “Add Rule”: Create a new pronunciation entry
- Enter the Text: Type the word or symbol you want to customize
- Choose Type: Select “Alias” (easier) or “Phoneme” (advanced)
- Enter Pronunciation:
- For Alias: Type how it should sound
- For Phoneme: Enter the IPA notation
- Save: Click the Save button to apply your changes
Managing Multiple Languages
If your voice agent supports multiple languages, you can:- Switch between language tabs to add rules for each language
- Create language-specific pronunciations (e.g., “CEO” might be pronounced differently in English vs. German)
Common Use Cases
Web and Email Elements
| Original | Alias |
|---|---|
@ | at |
www. | W W W dot |
.com | dot com |
https:// | H T T P S colon slash slash |
Business Acronyms
| Original | Alias |
|---|---|
FAQ | frequently asked questions |
HR | human resources |
IT | information technology |
KPI | key performance indicator |
German Examples
| Original | Alias (German) |
|---|---|
@ | ät |
CEO | Geschäftsführer |
FAQ | häufig gestellte Fragen |
URL | Webadresse |
AI / KI | Künstliche Intelligenz |
.de | Punkt D E |
Special Characters
| Original | Alias |
|---|---|
& | and |
# | hashtag or number |
% | percent |
$ | dollar |
€ | euro |
Best Practices
Test Your Pronunciations
After adding rules, use the “Test Agent” feature to hear how your changes sound in conversation.
Start Simple
Begin with the alias method. It’s easier to understand and works well for most cases.
Be Consistent
If you use abbreviations frequently, add them all at once to ensure consistent pronunciation.
Consider Context
Some words might need different pronunciations in different contexts. Test thoroughly!
Tips for Success
- Case Sensitive: Pronunciation rules are case-sensitive. Add separate entries for “CEO” and “ceo” if needed.
- Test First: Always test your voice agent after making changes to ensure the pronunciation sounds natural.
- Less is More: Only add rules for words that are actually mispronounced. Too many rules can slow down processing.
Need Help?
If you’re unsure about how to pronounce something:- Try the alias method first with simple phonetic spelling
- Use the IPA Generator tool (linked in the dialog) for complex words
- Test different variations until it sounds right
Remember to publish your voice agent after making pronunciation changes for them to take
effect!