Microsoft Word can read your text aloud. Use Read Aloud to listen to the whole document, or add the Speak command to the Quick Access Toolbar to hear just the words you select. Listening is a quick way to catch mistakes you miss when reading.
CommandsSpeak, Read Aloud
ShortcutCtrl + Alt + Space (Read Aloud)
Works inWord 2010 and later (Read Aloud: Microsoft 365, 2019+)
Video
Method 1: Speak selected text
- Click the small arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar and choose More Commands.
- In Choose commands from, select All Commands.
- Scroll to Speak, click Add, then OK.
- Select a sentence or paragraph and click Speak Selected Text on the toolbar. Click it again to stop.
Method 2: Read Aloud
- Click where you want Word to start reading.
- Go to Review › Read Aloud, or type read in the Search box and choose Read Aloud.
- Use the small player at the top right to pause, skip and change settings.
In the player’s settings, change the reading speed and choose a different voice. Press Ctrl + Alt + Space to start or stop.
Which to use
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Hear one sentence or paragraph | Speak |
| Listen to the whole document while following the highlighted words | Read Aloud |
| Proofread a long report | Read Aloud at a slightly slower speed |
FAQ
Can Word save the speech as an audio file?
No. Speak and Read Aloud only play the audio.
Does it read Malayalam or Hindi?
Read Aloud reads a language only if a voice for it is installed in Windows (Settings › Time & language › Speech).
Why is Read Aloud greyed out?
The document may be in Protected View. Click Enable Editing first.