# AXSpeechAttributeSSML ``` extern NSAttributedStringKey const AXSpeechAttributeSSML; ``` ## Discussion\abstract Annotate a range of an accessibility NSAttributedString with a Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) fragment that describes how that range should be spoken. \discussion The value is an NSString containing an SSML fragment, as defined by the W3C Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) Version 1.1 specification. Assistive technologies that produce speech, such as VoiceOver and Spoken Content, use the fragment to determine how to pronounce the annotated range, enabling control over pronunciation, inline language switching, pacing, emphasis, and say-as interpretations. The SSML fragment is scoped to the attribute’s range; you do not need to wrap it in a top-level element. The text spoken for the range is derived from the SSML fragment, not from the underlying characters, so the visible and Braille-rendered text remain unchanged. Assistive technologies that do not produce speech ignore this attribute and use the underlying string. If the value is not well-formed SSML, the attribute is ignored for that range and the underlying string is spoken normally. This attribute can be applied to any accessibility attributed-string field, including accessibilityAttributedLabel, accessibilityAttributedValue, accessibilityAttributedHint, and attributed announcement strings. When AXSpeechAttributeSSML is present on a range, it takes precedence over the older, single-purpose speech attributes (IPA notation, spell out, pitch, punctuation, language) for that range. Use an NSString containing an SSML fragment. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)