Getting Igbo text to speech right
Igbo has eight vowels, and three of them carry a dot underneath: ị, ọ and ụ. There is also ṅ. Dropping the dots changes the word. Igbo is tonal too: the classic example is akwa, which can mean bed, cloth, crying or egg depending on the tones. Most everyday writing leaves the tones off, and the voice reads from context, but when a word is ambiguous, mark it.
Write in standard Igbo spelling with the dotted vowels. If you are more comfortable in English, write it in English and press Translate my script. Then ask an Igbo speaker from your target area to read it, because a phrase that sounds natural in Owerri can sound stiff in Nsukka.
Four Igbo voices
Each has its own character. Play the samples before you choose.
- A warm, friendly Igbo woman: family businesses, food, health, church
- A confident, authoritative Igbo man: property, spare parts dealers, finance
- A bright, energetic young Igbo woman: fashion, beauty, events
- A lively, energetic young Igbo man: promos, sales, music and entertainment
Ideas for Igbo voiceovers
Igbo audio works hard in places English alone does not reach. A market announcement played at a shop in Onitsha Main Market. A Christmas and New Year greeting from a business to its customers back home. A church programme announcement. A radio style ad for a pharmacy in Aba. A welcome message in Igbo for an August meeting or a town union event.
Start with a greeting like 'Ndewo' and keep the message simple: who you are, what you offer, where to find you. Many listeners are comfortable with English words for prices and phone numbers, so mix where it sounds natural. Use / for a short pause and // for a long pause, and stress the key words by putting them between stars.
Beta, and why that matters
Igbo voices on Kreyta are marked Beta. They work well with a carefully written script, but always have a native speaker listen before you publish. Add tricky names, like your street or your brand, to Pronunciations so they are said the same way every time. A voiceover is priced per started minute of speech, and the price shows before you make it.
How it works
Write or translate
Write Igbo with the dotted vowels, or write English and use Translate my script (free).
Pick Igbo and a voice
Listen to the four samples and choose.
Mark pauses and names
Add pauses, stress and pronunciations for names.
Make it and check
Make the voiceover, let an Igbo speaker listen, then download.
Questions and answers
Do I need the dots under the vowels?
Yes. The dotted vowels are different letters in Igbo, and leaving them out changes words. Tone marks help for words that could be misread.
Can Kreyta translate English into Igbo?
Yes, free. Read and edit the translation before it is voiced, and have a native speaker check it.
Which dialect does it speak?
The voices read the standard Igbo you write. If your audience uses a local form, write the script that way and listen to the result.
How much does it cost?
Igbo voiceovers are priced like every voiceover, per started minute of speech, shown before you make it. New accounts get 3 free credits once.
Can I put the Igbo voice on a video?
Yes. Use it under a Kreyta video or add it in Kreyta Editor.