macos-say

Convert text to spoken audio using the macOS say command.

5|Updated Dec 25, 2025

Search Tags:#automation #accessibility #text-to-speech #narration #voice feedback #macos-say #say

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/intrusive-memory/skills --skill macos-say

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: macos-say
Source: https://github.com/intrusive-memory/skills/tree/main/macos-say
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/intrusive-memory/skills --skill macos-say

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill enables voice feedback by leveraging macOS's built-in say command to announce task progress, narrate results, and provide audible cues during automation.

Core Features & Use Cases

Voice Feedback: Provide audible notifications during scripts and terminal workflows.
Narration & Accessibility: Add spoken narration to demos or assist users with accessibility needs.
Voice Customization: Use -v to choose voices, -r to set speech rate, and -o to output audio to a file. Useful for narration, audio notes, or hands-free status updates.

Quick Start

Use the macOS say command to speak a message, for example: say "Task complete" To run non-blocking notifications, append an ampersand: say "Task finished" &

Frequently Asked Questions about macos-say

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I add voice feedback to macOS automation scripts?▼

Use the macOS `say` command to convert text to spoken output during scripts. Invoke it with your message to announce task progress, provide audible alerts, or narrate workflow steps. Append `&` to run non-blocking notifications without pausing execution.

Can I customize voice and speech rate with text-to-speech on macOS?▼

Yes. The `say` command supports `-v` to select different voices and `-r` to adjust speech rate in words per minute. Use `-o` to save audio to a file for reuse, enabling flexible voice narration and accessibility features.

What's the best way to read text from a file and convert it to speech?▼

Use the `say` command with the `-f` flag to read from a file and speak its contents. This approach works for batch narration, accessibility announcements, or automated voice notes without modifying your script logic.

How do I output spoken audio to a file instead of playing it immediately?▼

Add the `-o` flag followed by a file path to save speech output as audio. This generates files for later playback, archival, or distribution in automated workflows and narration pipelines.

Does macOS text-to-speech work in background workflows and terminal automation?▼

Yes. The `say` command runs in terminal workflows and supports background execution with `&` for non-blocking notifications. Use it in scripts, cron jobs, and automation to provide real-time voice feedback without interrupting task flow.