Article overview
Get your AI voice to say acronyms exactly the way you want — as a word or letter by letter.
Acronyms vary in how they're spoken — some are read as complete words (like NASA), while others are spelled out letter by letter (like NBA). When the voice doesn't get it right, a few simple techniques can help.
Before you get started
- You'll need a WellSaid Studio account to get started.
- Have a project open with at least one section that already has script text in it.
Pronouncing an acronym as a word
- Click into the script text.
- Select the acronym you want to fix.
- Enter a phonetic spelling directly in the script, or open the Respellings chart to build one syllable by syllable.
- Replace the acronym with your Respelling.
💡 Use the Respelling tool to give precise instructions to the voice, specifying how each syllable should be pronounced and which syllables to emphasize. For instance, the acronym LASER can be entered as LAY-zer.
Word examples
-
If you can't come tonight, let me know ASAP.
ASAP →eigh-sap -
NASA was established in 1958.
NASA →NA-suh
Pronouncing an acronym as individual letters
- Click into the script text.
- Select the acronym you want to fix.
- Add spaces or dashes between each letter for simple cases.
- Replace the acronym with a Respelling instead for more precise control.
-
Stress only the first and last syllables of the Respelling for best results — for example,
AY-ehs-ay-PEE.
Letter examples
-
Add your notes to the M O M document.
MOM →M.O.M.orM-O-M -
BMW is a German car brand.
BMW →BEE-EM-DUH-buhl-yoo -
I need the memo ASAP.
ASAP →AY-EHS-AY-PEE
Respellings for acronyms
Use this reference table when spelling out acronyms or initialisms where each letter is pronounced individually — such as ASPCA, LCD, BBC, or FBI.
A → AY
|
N → EHN
|
B → BEE
|
O → OH
|
C → SEE
|
P → PEE
|
D → DEE
|
Q → KYOO
|
E → EE
|
R → AR
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F → EHF
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S → EHS
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G → JEE
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T → TEE
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H → AYCH
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U → YOO
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I → Y
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V → VEE
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J → JAY
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W → DUH-buhl-yoo
|
K → KAY
|
X → EHKS
|
L → EHL
|
Y → WY
|
M → EHM
|
Z → ZEE or ZEHD
|
Once you've applied a Respelling or spelled out the acronym, replay the section to confirm the pronunciation sounds right. Your acronym will now be pronounced exactly how you intended — as a word or spelled out — every time that section plays.
FAQs
Q: Will my Respelling apply to every instance of that acronym in the script?
A: Only within the section where you enter it. Save it to your Pronunciation Library to reuse it elsewhere.
Q: Does WellSaid support acronyms in languages other than English?
A: Respellings are optimized for English pronunciation patterns. Results may vary for other languages.
Q: Can I save an acronym Respelling so I don't have to re-enter it every time?
A: Yes. Save the Respelling to your Pronunciation Library and it will apply automatically across projects.