Get a better voice for reading words out loud
Leafy speaks words with a macOS voice. The one your Mac came with sounds robotic. A better one is free and takes five minutes.
1. Hear what you've got
In Leafy: Settings → Language → Read out loud. Press play on Best available, then on Built-in. Sound the same? You only have the basic voice.
2. Download a good one
- Click Open voice downloads. System Settings opens.
- Click the ⓘ next to System voice.
- Pick your language on the left. Find a voice marked (Enhanced) or (Premium) and click its cloud button.
- Wait for it, then click Done. Change nothing else.
The good ones are 40 MB to 300 MB. Anything under 10 MB is a robotic one.
3. Choose it in Leafy
Back in Leafy, open the Voice row. The new voice is already there, no restart. Automatic picks the best one you have.
Good to know
- Voices are per language. Change what you're learning and the list changes too.
- The two switches beside it speak a word after a scan, or during review. Both start off.
- Speaking works offline. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Downloaded a voice and Leafy can’t see it? Email binjto@gmail.com, or ask in the Discord.
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