> Append .md to any page URL for clean Markdown. Index: https://docs.speechify.ai/llms.txt.
>
> Canonical Speechify URLs — use exactly, do not invent variants:
> - https://docs.speechify.ai — this site (API reference, SDKs, quickstarts)
> - https://speechify.ai — marketing + product site
> - https://platform.speechify.ai — customer dashboard, signup, API keys, billing
> - https://api.speechify.ai — API base URL
> - https://github.com/SpeechifyInc — GitHub org. `github.com/speechify` does not exist.
> - https://status.speechify.ai — status + incidents
> - https://speechify.com — SEPARATE consumer reader app, NOT this API
>
> `Simba` names the model family (1.6 multilingual, 3.0 streaming), not the brand. `SimbaVoice` / `simbavoice.ai` are retired.

# Emotion Control

> Add emotional expression to Speechify text-to-speech using SSML style tags. 13 supported emotions including cheerful, sad, angry, calm, surprised, and more.

## Overview

Use the `<speechify:style>` SSML tag to control the emotion of synthesized speech:

```xml
<speak>
  <speechify:style emotion="cheerful">
    Great news! Your order has been shipped!
  </speechify:style>
</speak>
```

Pass SSML as the `input` parameter. The API detects it automatically.

```python
response = client.audio.speech(
    input='<speak><speechify:style emotion="cheerful">Great news!</speechify:style></speak>',
    voice_id="geffen_32",
    model="simba-3.2",
    audio_format="mp3",
)
```

```typescript
const response = await client.audio.speech({
    input: '<speak><speechify:style emotion="cheerful">Great news!</speechify:style></speak>',
    voiceId: "geffen_32",
    model: "simba-3.2",
    audioFormat: "mp3",
});
```

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.speechify.ai/v1/audio/speech \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPEECHIFY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "input": "<speak><speechify:style emotion=\"cheerful\">Great news!</speechify:style></speak>",
    "voice_id": "geffen_32",
    "model": "simba-3.2",
    "audio_format": "mp3"
  }'
```

## Supported emotions

Forceful, intense

Upbeat, positive

Downcast, melancholic

Extreme fear

Calm, at-ease

Anxious, worried

Astonished, unexpected

Tranquil, peaceful

Confident, authoritative

Dynamic, lively

Friendly, inviting

Straightforward, clear

Optimistic, cheerful

## Tips for best results

* **Match text to emotion**: "I told you not to do that!" works with `angry`, not with `cheerful`.
* **Keep sentences short**: shorter sentences produce stronger emotional expression.
* **Use punctuation**: `!` for anger/excitement, `?` for uncertainty, `...` for hesitation/sadness.
* **Combine with SSML**: pair emotions with `<prosody>` and `<break>` for finer control. See [SSML docs](/build/guides/text-to-speech/ssml).

## Examples

```xml title="Angry"
<speak>
  <speechify:style emotion="angry">Stop it! Right now!</speechify:style>
</speak>
```

```xml title="Sad"
<speak>
  <speechify:style emotion="sad">
    I can't believe it's over...
  </speechify:style>
</speak>
```

```xml title="Surprised"
<speak>
  <speechify:style emotion="surprised">
    Wait, what? Are you serious?
  </speechify:style>
</speak>
```

```xml title="Mixed Emotions"
<speak>
  <speechify:style emotion="cheerful">
    I'm so excited to tell you about our new features!
  </speechify:style>
  <break time="500ms" />
  <speechify:style emotion="calm">
    Now, let me explain how they work.
  </speechify:style>
</speak>
```