Office Settings & Configuration

How to Set Cantonese Speech and Read Aloud in Microsoft Word

Khadija Khan Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to configure Microsoft Word to correctly use Cantonese for dictation, speech recognition, and Read Aloud features.

How to Configure Cantonese Speech and Read Aloud in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Using dictation to type by voice or using the Read Aloud feature to listen to documents in Cantonese.
Observed behavior: Word incorrectly defaults to another Chinese language (such as Mandarin) because the required Cantonese speech features and language packs are missing or not properly configured.

Before you start

Ensure your computer has an active internet connection to download the necessary Windows and Office language packs from Microsoft.

Solution 1Recommended

Install Cantonese Speech Features in Windows Settings

Windows must have the Cantonese speech engine installed before Microsoft Word can utilize it for Read Aloud or Dictation.

Microsoft Word relies on the underlying Windows operating system for its Text-to-Speech (TTS) and dictation engines. If the Cantonese package is missing from Windows, Word will default to the primary Chinese language installed.

Open Windows Settings

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Windows Settings, then navigate to 'Time & language'.

Add a language

Click on 'Language & region'. Under the Preferred languages section, click 'Add a language' and search for 'Cantonese (Traditional Chinese, Hong Kong SAR)'.

Install speech features

Select the language and click Next. Ensure the 'Speech' and 'Text-to-speech' options are checked, then click 'Install'.

Install Cantonese Speech Features in Windows Settings

Restart Required: After the installation completes, restart Microsoft Word for the new speech engine to be detected.

Solution 2

Configure Language Options and Disable Auto-Detect in Word

Set Word's language preferences and stop it from automatically switching to other Chinese dialects.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Microsoft Word reading my Cantonese text in Mandarin?

This usually happens when the text is formatted with a Mandarin proofing language or the Cantonese Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine is missing from your Windows Time & language settings. Ensure the text is set to Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong SAR).

Can I use Dictation for Cantonese in Word?

Yes, provided you have installed the Cantonese speech recognition package in your Windows settings and selected the correct microphone and spoken language within Word's dictation toolbar.

Where is the Read Aloud feature located in Word?

You can find the Read Aloud feature on the Review tab in the ribbon. Clicking it will display a playback toolbar where you can play, pause, and access a settings gear icon to change the reading speed and voice selection.

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