break

A pause in speech.

Step 1, take a deep breath. [200ms]
Step 2, exhale.
Step 3, take a deep breath again. [break:"weak"]
Step 4, exhale.

time

Set break length in seconds or milliseconds:

  • 250ms
  • 0.5s
  • 3s
  • 10s
  • 10000ms

Speech Markdown

Short format

A pause [250ms] then continue.

Standard format

A pause [break:"250ms"] then continue.

Formatters

Plain Text

A pause then continue.

Amazon Alexa SSML

<speak>
A pause <break time="250ms"/> then continue.
</speak>

Google Assistant SSML

<speak>
A pause <break time="250ms"/> then continue.
</speak>

strength

Set break length by relative terms:

  • none
  • x-weak
  • weak
  • medium
  • strong
  • x-strong

Speech Markdown

Short format

n/a

Standard format

A pause [break:"weak"] then continue.

Formatters

Plain Text

A pause then continue.

Amazon Alexa SSML

<speak>
A pause <break strength="weak"/> then continue.
</speak>

Google Assistant SSML

<speak>
A pause <break strength="weak"/> then continue.
</speak>