---
title: "Enable static text-to-speech"
slug: "content-enable-static-text-to-speech"
updated: 2026-07-23T10:06:50Z
published: 2026-07-23T10:06:50Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/content-enable-static-text-to-speech"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Enable static text-to-speech

Use the **Say** object in an IVR script to convert text to speech (TTS). The Say object can play either static free text or dynamic variable values—such as a phone number or queue position—directly to the caller.

Text-to-speech announcements can be delivered in multiple supported languages, and are ideal for providing real-time, personalized information.

## Features

- Convert static text or dynamic variable values to speech using the Say object in IVR.
- Play TTS prompts in multiple languages.
- **Available languages**

Arabic, Bahasa (Indonesia), Basque, Cantonese, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Dutch (Belgium), English (Australia), English (GB), English (India), English (US), Finnish, French, French (Canada), Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China), Mandarin (Taiwan), Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (US), Swedish, Thai, Turkish.
- **Text-to-speech options**:
  - **Language**: Select from any [supported languages](/documentation/docs/content-enable-static-text-to-speech#available-languages). This determines available voices
  - **Voice**: Choose from Ava, Allison, Samantha, Susan, Zoe, Tom. Available voices depend on the language selected.
  - **Value to play**: Select **Free text**. You can play: **$callback phone number**, **$caller phone number**, **$queue position**, or static **Free text**
  - **Playback rate**: Choose how fast the message plays: **Normal**, **Slow** or **Fast**
  - **Playback options**:
    - **Uninterruptible**: Ignores input from the caller or
    - **Interruptible**: Captures input during playback
  - **Text to play**: Up to 1250 characters per **Say** instance
  - **Generate Audio Preview**: Click to listen to the message before saving or deploying
  - **Say instances allowed in IVR**: Unlimited **Say** instances can be added to an IVR script

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> You can create natural, clear, and professional IVR messages using the Speech Editor. To learn now, see Control IVR Speech in the Say node with SSML support .

**Configure a static Say node in an IVR script**

1. From the Configuration Manager menu, open **Scripts**.
2. Select the **Phone** tab.
3. Click **Edit ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-edit_15x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T22%3A38%3A46Z&se=2026-11-03T23%3A38%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=dX5c1Hz2YijFOGM4RwHax40kq%2Bm%2BFcJeHpbJs2eGbK4%3D)** to open the desired script.
4. In the **Script** tab, add or select a **Say** node.
5. In the **Say** node configuration dialog, configure the TTS options.
6. Click **Generate Audio Preview ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-generate-audoi-preview_17x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T22%3A38%3A46Z&se=2026-11-03T23%3A38%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=dX5c1Hz2YijFOGM4RwHax40kq%2Bm%2BFcJeHpbJs2eGbK4%3D)** to listen to the message before saving or deploying.
7. Optionally, make the necessary changes.
8. Click **OK** to save.

To learn how to create different phone IVR scripts, see , see [Summary of phone IVR script objects](/documentation/docs/content-summary-of-phone-ivr-script-objects).

To generate natural, clear, and professional IVR messages, use the SSML support. For instructions on this, see [Control IVR Speech in the Say node with SSML support](/documentation/docs/control-ivr-speech-in-the-say-node-with-ssml-support).

![IVR Say node: Edit a statuc Say object by configuring language, voice, free text message for Value to play; play and review the message using the built-in audio player before saving changes](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/say-nod-static.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T22%3A38%3A46Z&se=2026-11-03T23%3A38%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=dX5c1Hz2YijFOGM4RwHax40kq%2Bm%2BFcJeHpbJs2eGbK4%3D)