Can your text-to-speech model pronounce your name correctly?
If you’ve ever heard a text-to-speech (TTS) model struggle to pronounce a tricky word—or worse, butcher your brand name—you’re not alone. Many TTS models falter when it comes to uncommon words, names, or even made-up terms. Enter the Sbarro Index, a nod to the iconic pizza chain and a symbol of this widespread challenge in voice AI.
At Rime, we believe that your voice AI should get every word right—especially the ones that matter most to you. That’s why we’ve released our new proprietary pronunciation model, designed to ensure accurate, effortless pronunciation for even the most uncommon words.
How It Works
Rime’s pronunciation tools take the guesswork—and the tedious trial and error—out of creating custom pronunciations. Here’s how we make it happen:
- Check Dictionary Coverage
Not sure if your word is already supported? Use our Coverage Tool in the Rime Dashboard to check if a word or list of words is included in the Rime dictionary.
- Generate a Custom Pronunciation
If your word isn’t covered, the Pronunciation Tool in the Rime Dashboard makes it simple to create a custom pronunciation:- Spell the word.
- Record yourself saying it.
- Click GENERATE.
Our proprietary pronunciation model processes your recording and generates a phonetic string using Rime’s phonetic alphabet.
- Review and Edit
Once the custom pronunciation is generated, you can listen to it using any of Rime’s voices. If needed, you can fine-tune the phonetic string for perfection.
Rime’s Phonetic Alphabet
Inspired by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), Rime’s phonetic system is precise yet accessible. And unlike the IPA, it can be easily typed on a standard English keyboard. For example:
- The word "custom" is represented as
{k1Ast0xm}. - Even made-up words like "gorbulets" can be represented:
{g1orby0ul2Ets}.
This approach ensures that even the most unique words sound natural and lifelike when spoken by Rime’s voices.
Why This Matters
Brand names, product terminology, and cultural nuances are more than just words—they’re an essential part of your identity. With Rime, you no longer have to settle for approximations or risk frustrating your audience. The Sbarro Index is now a solved problem, giving you total control over how your TTS model speaks.
Oh and by the way, these features are perfect for multilingual output. Say your restaurant name is in Spanish, for example El Castillo. Just send Rime something like Would you like to place an order with {1El k0ast1iy0o}?, and we'll pronounce it perfectly every time.
Ready to Get Started?
Explore the tools and learn more about Rime’s phonetic alphabet in our documentation. Check your word coverage, create custom pronunciations, and unlock the full potential of voice AI with Rime.
Perfect pronunciation has never been easier—or more powerful.