Select your cookie preferences

We use essential cookies and similar tools that are necessary to provide our site and services. We use performance cookies to collect anonymous statistics, so we can understand how customers use our site and make improvements. Essential cookies cannot be deactivated, but you can choose “Customize” or “Decline” to decline performance cookies.

If you agree, AWS and approved third parties will also use cookies to provide useful site features, remember your preferences, and display relevant content, including relevant advertising. To accept or decline all non-essential cookies, choose “Accept” or “Decline.” To make more detailed choices, choose “Customize.”

Preferences
Contact Us
Feedback
AWS Documentation
Create an AWS Account

Emphasizing words

PDF
RSS
Focus mode
Emphasizing words - Amazon Polly

<emphasis>

This tag is supported only by the standard TTS format.

To emphasize words, use the <emphasis> tag. Emphasizing words changes the speaking rate and volume. More emphasis makes Amazon Polly speak the text louder and slower. Less emphasis makes it speak quieter and faster. To specify the degree of emphasis, use the level attribute.

level attribute values:

  • Strong: Increases the volume and slows the speaking rate so that the speech is louder and slower.

  • Moderate: Increases the volume and slows the speaking rate, but less than strong. Moderate is the default.

  • Reduced: Decreases the volume and speeds up the speaking rate. Speech is softer and faster.

Note

The normal speaking rate and volume for a voice falls between the moderate and reduced levels.

For example:

PrivacySite termsCookie preferences
© 2025, Amazon Web Services, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.