Getting Siri to pronounce a complex or foreign - vocalize name can be a challenge . Why ? Because Siri ’s method acting of determining how to articulate right names depends on your twist ’s system language . In the U.S. and other English - speaking regions , Siri ’s pronunciation is governed by English phonetic principle . When Siri is confront with a name , say of Italian origin like Vito Corleone or of Taiwanese origin like Xiaoyan Zhou , it will likely necessitate help in mother the spoken pronunciation just correct .
I of late read that there ’s a way to get Siri to precisely pronounce every syllable in every name in your contacts leaning — but you have to typecast the statement rather than say Siri how to do it .
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The Department of Education of Siri start in the Contacts app on either the iPhone or iPad . To objurgate an errant Siri pronunciation , select the name in question . On that pane , tap theEditbutton at the upper right corner of the screen . That opens a new pane where you then tap theAdd Fieldline . There you will findPronunciationandPhonetichelp for first , middle , and last public figure . To school Siri , choose thePhoneticname you bid to castigate ( or all three names , if Siri is earnestly mangling a moniker ) . you’re able to even tell Siri it has pronounced a name awry , and it will top you to the pronunciation page .
To test my Vito Corleone representative , I take thePhonetic last nameand used the field to type the pronunciation as closely as I could and then tappedDone . It guide a few tries , but I in the end bring forth Siri to pronounce The Godfather ’s name correctly , as opposed to saying “ Cor - leon ” ( three syllable instead of four ) or “ Corleon - a ” ( four syllable but the wrong vowel at the end ) .
Do n’t be afraid to participate several variations until Siri get it right . screen the result by call for Siri for data about that somebody , so Siri is force to repeat the name . you may even secern Siri it ’s pronounced a name wrong , and it will move you to add a phonetic description in Contacts .
What ’s the difference between phonic and orthoepy hints ? Not much in terms of surgery . ChoosingPhoneticis preferred because it automatically places the name in the right alphabetic listing sort ordination .
Today I Learned is a Macworld column that spotlights lesser - known but useful wind and tricks for Apple substance abuser . If you have any ideas for future columns , send an email to michael_simon@idg.com .