How to Fix Word Not Reading Hebrew Text Aloud
Question details
The user needs Microsoft Word's Read Aloud feature to correctly dictate both Hebrew and English text instead of only reading the English portions.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using the Read Aloud text-to-speech feature to dictate a bilingual document containing both Hebrew and English text.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word reads the English text correctly but skips or fails to read the Hebrew text because the correct reading language is not assigned.
Ensure your device has the necessary Hebrew text-to-speech voice packages installed in your operating system's language settings before troubleshooting Word.
Assign the Correct Proofing Language to Hebrew Text
Manually setting the correct language for the specific text ensures the Read Aloud engine recognizes and processes the Hebrew characters correctly.
Microsoft Word's Read Aloud feature relies on the text's designated proofing language to choose the correct voice. If Hebrew text is accidentally marked as English, the feature will skip it.
Highlight the specific Hebrew text or paragraphs in your document that Word is failing to read aloud.
Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Language' in the Language group, and select 'Set Proofing Language' from the drop-down menu.
Scroll through the language list, select 'Hebrew', and ensure the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' option is unchecked. Click 'OK' to apply the change.
Apply Hebrew Settings via Paragraph Styles
Creating a dedicated text style helps apply the Hebrew language setting consistently across long documents without repetitive manual selection.
Install Hebrew Proofing Tools
Word cannot read or check Hebrew text if the corresponding proofing tools are missing from your Office installation.
Edit Multi-Language Documents Smoothly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word's read-aloud and language formatting issues persist, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative with excellent multi-language document processing capabilities and full compatibility with Microsoft formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word's Read Aloud skip certain words or sentences?
Word relies on the proofing language assigned to the text. If your text is formatted with the wrong language, or if the 'Do not check spelling' option is enabled, the Read Aloud engine may skip it or try to pronounce it incorrectly.
How do I change the Read Aloud voice in Word?
You can change the reading voice and playback speed by clicking the Settings icon (gear symbol) on the Read Aloud playback controls, which usually appear in the top-right corner of your document window during playback.
Does my operating system need specific language packs for Word's Read Aloud?
Yes, Microsoft Word utilizes the Text-to-Speech voices installed on your device. For Windows users, go to Windows Settings > Time & Language > Speech to add Hebrew or other desired voices if they are missing.
