toPhonetics Converter
English Phonetic Transcription
$3.99
2.4for iPhone, iPad and more
Age Rating
toPhonetics Converter Screenshots
About toPhonetics Converter
Got an English text and want to see how to pronounce it? This app will turn your English text into its phonetic transcription using International Phonetic Alphabet.
Features:
- See phonetic transcription of the whole text, not just the dictionary forms of separate words.
- Choose between British and American* pronunciation. When British dialect is selected the [r] sound at the end of the word is only voiced if followed by a vowel, which follows British phonetic convention.
- International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols used.
- The structure of the text and sentences in it (line breaks, punctuation marks, etc.) is preserved in phonetic transcription output making it easier to read.
- You can output the text and its phonetic transcription along each other line-by-line to make back-reference to the original text easier.
- An option to vary pronunciation depending on whether words are in stressed or weak position in the sentence, as in connected speech. Weak forms are italicized in the output.
- Words in CAPS are interpreted as acronyms if the word is not found in the database. Acronym transcriptions will be shown with hyphens between letters.
- In addition to commonly used vocabulary the database contains a very substantial amount of place names (including names of countries, their capitals, US states, UK counties), nationalities and popular names.
- Where a word has a number of possible pronunciations (highlighted in blue in the output) you can select the one that agrees with the context by tapping on it.
- Print out the output results, share via email or copy to pasteboard.
- Let the built-in speech synthesiser read your text out loud. Control the playback and follow IPA transcription of the current word with a highlight.
- Custom URL scheme to open toPhonetics from 3rd-party apps.
Gestures (IPA transcription screen):
1. Single tap
- Tap a word to set the cursor to it and speak it (you can mute/un-mute it with the button at your bottom-right).
- Tap in a blank space to stop speech and hide the cursor.
2. Double-tap
- Double-tap a word to open it in the built-in dictionary; if the word has multiple pronunciations you'll see the list of them first.
- Double-tap in a blank space to reset the font to the size set in iOS preferences.
3. Pinch in or out to make the text smaller or larger.
4. Start to slide horizontally to select a part of your text. The Speak button respects current selection.
*) American transcriptions are based on the open Carnegie Mellon University Pronouncing Dictionary.
Features:
- See phonetic transcription of the whole text, not just the dictionary forms of separate words.
- Choose between British and American* pronunciation. When British dialect is selected the [r] sound at the end of the word is only voiced if followed by a vowel, which follows British phonetic convention.
- International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols used.
- The structure of the text and sentences in it (line breaks, punctuation marks, etc.) is preserved in phonetic transcription output making it easier to read.
- You can output the text and its phonetic transcription along each other line-by-line to make back-reference to the original text easier.
- An option to vary pronunciation depending on whether words are in stressed or weak position in the sentence, as in connected speech. Weak forms are italicized in the output.
- Words in CAPS are interpreted as acronyms if the word is not found in the database. Acronym transcriptions will be shown with hyphens between letters.
- In addition to commonly used vocabulary the database contains a very substantial amount of place names (including names of countries, their capitals, US states, UK counties), nationalities and popular names.
- Where a word has a number of possible pronunciations (highlighted in blue in the output) you can select the one that agrees with the context by tapping on it.
- Print out the output results, share via email or copy to pasteboard.
- Let the built-in speech synthesiser read your text out loud. Control the playback and follow IPA transcription of the current word with a highlight.
- Custom URL scheme to open toPhonetics from 3rd-party apps.
Gestures (IPA transcription screen):
1. Single tap
- Tap a word to set the cursor to it and speak it (you can mute/un-mute it with the button at your bottom-right).
- Tap in a blank space to stop speech and hide the cursor.
2. Double-tap
- Double-tap a word to open it in the built-in dictionary; if the word has multiple pronunciations you'll see the list of them first.
- Double-tap in a blank space to reset the font to the size set in iOS preferences.
3. Pinch in or out to make the text smaller or larger.
4. Start to slide horizontally to select a part of your text. The Speak button respects current selection.
*) American transcriptions are based on the open Carnegie Mellon University Pronouncing Dictionary.
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What's New in the Latest Version 2.4
Last updated on Mar 28, 2024
Old Versions
- Redesigned color options screen;
- Improved morphology handling;
- Dictionary updates.
- Improved morphology handling;
- Dictionary updates.
Show More
Version History
2.4
Mar 28, 2024
- Redesigned color options screen;
- Improved morphology handling;
- Dictionary updates.
- Improved morphology handling;
- Dictionary updates.
2.3
Nov 6, 2023
- Various improvements to transcription engine;
- Dictionary updates;
- Native user interface for 3 more languages: Ukrainian, Korean, Tagalog.
- Dictionary updates;
- Native user interface for 3 more languages: Ukrainian, Korean, Tagalog.
2.2.10
Sep 5, 2023
- Weak forms can be shown in italics now. The feature can be turned on/off in the configuration screen.
- Implemented heuristics to keep pronunciation in agreement with parts of speech (e.g., "to object" vs "an object").
- Improvements to variant selection popup.
- Dictionary update.
- Implemented heuristics to keep pronunciation in agreement with parts of speech (e.g., "to object" vs "an object").
- Improvements to variant selection popup.
- Dictionary update.
2.2.9
Jun 14, 2023
- fixed line alignment when printing IPA with original text;
- Eloquence, Novelty and other synthetic voice models are now hidden as non-representative of English pronunciation;
- dictionary update.
- Eloquence, Novelty and other synthetic voice models are now hidden as non-representative of English pronunciation;
- dictionary update.
2.2.8
Jan 15, 2023
- removed Simplified character set;
- added new character set option for American dialect to indicate vowel length and rhotacized diphthongs;
- replaced ascii "g" with IPA's /ɡ/ in transcriptions;
- massive dictionary update;
- added new character set option for American dialect to indicate vowel length and rhotacized diphthongs;
- replaced ascii "g" with IPA's /ɡ/ in transcriptions;
- massive dictionary update;
2.2.7
Sep 26, 2022
- Minor improvements.
2.2.6
Sep 12, 2022
- added a button for text capture from camera on modern devices (with neural engine and iOS 15+);
- added custom URL scheme to open toPhonetics from other apps (you can check syntax and examples in the settings screen in the app);
- dictionary updates;
- minor improvements;
- added custom URL scheme to open toPhonetics from other apps (you can check syntax and examples in the settings screen in the app);
- dictionary updates;
- minor improvements;
2.2.5
Oct 14, 2021
- iOS 15 adjustments;
- Improved cursor behaviour in various speak/stop scenarios;
- Improved dark mode palette;
- Dictionary updates.
- Improved cursor behaviour in various speak/stop scenarios;
- Improved dark mode palette;
- Dictionary updates.
2.2.4
Jun 21, 2020
Voice option!
You now have an option to select a voice for the selected dialect.
Open the drawer toolbar at the bottom of the output screen and tap the leftmost icon. The new voice icon will be on the right.
If you want to add more voices for each dialect:
- open iOS's Setting app, pull down to reveal the search box and search for "Voices";
- select English from the language list;
- download additional voices in respective sections for American and British dialects.
We also threw in some other minor improvements.
You now have an option to select a voice for the selected dialect.
Open the drawer toolbar at the bottom of the output screen and tap the leftmost icon. The new voice icon will be on the right.
If you want to add more voices for each dialect:
- open iOS's Setting app, pull down to reveal the search box and search for "Voices";
- select English from the language list;
- download additional voices in respective sections for American and British dialects.
We also threw in some other minor improvements.
2.2.3
May 14, 2020
- dictionary updates;
- fixed split keyboard bug on iPad;
- minor optimisations;
- fixed split keyboard bug on iPad;
- minor optimisations;
2.2.2
Oct 7, 2019
- dark mode;
- UI adjustments for iPhone X;
- dictionary updates;
- minor fixes and optimisations;
- UI adjustments for iPhone X;
- dictionary updates;
- minor fixes and optimisations;
2.2.1
Apr 28, 2018
- fixed the issue where the app would freeze on older devices;
- minor improvements to handling of result selection;
- minor improvements to handling of result selection;
2.2
Apr 27, 2018
- dictionary updates;
- bug fixes and optimisations.
- bug fixes and optimisations.
2.1
Jan 2, 2017
2.1
- fine-tuning and performance optimisations;
- "copy original" item in the selection edit menu has been replaced with activity sheet for the original text corresponding to selection.
2.0
Version 2.0 of the app is a huge redesign, making the app much easier to use.
Transcription engine options (dialect and weak forms) are now accessible from the input screen.
Transcription presentation options are now accessible right from the IPA screen.
More importantly though, this update lays the groundwork for some of the most requested features that will follow pretty soon.
If you like the new version of the app, we would appreciate your feedback via the app or a review on the App Store.
Other improvements:
- IPA character sets are dialect dependent now. We added Gimson's set to the British dialect. This will use character [e] instead of [ɛ].
- The app uses a dedicated audio session for speech synthesis now. No more "no sound bug", when you forget you've got the mute switch on.
- Much better LTR-language layout support.
- A few misbehaviour scenarios on later iOS versions has been fixed too.
- Dictionary updates as usual.
- fine-tuning and performance optimisations;
- "copy original" item in the selection edit menu has been replaced with activity sheet for the original text corresponding to selection.
2.0
Version 2.0 of the app is a huge redesign, making the app much easier to use.
Transcription engine options (dialect and weak forms) are now accessible from the input screen.
Transcription presentation options are now accessible right from the IPA screen.
More importantly though, this update lays the groundwork for some of the most requested features that will follow pretty soon.
If you like the new version of the app, we would appreciate your feedback via the app or a review on the App Store.
Other improvements:
- IPA character sets are dialect dependent now. We added Gimson's set to the British dialect. This will use character [e] instead of [ɛ].
- The app uses a dedicated audio session for speech synthesis now. No more "no sound bug", when you forget you've got the mute switch on.
- Much better LTR-language layout support.
- A few misbehaviour scenarios on later iOS versions has been fixed too.
- Dictionary updates as usual.
2.0
Dec 4, 2016
Version 2.0 of the app is a huge redesign, making the app much easier to use.
Transcription engine options (dialect and weak forms) are now accessible from the input screen.
Transcription presentation options are now accessible right from the IPA screen.
More importantly though, this update lays the groundwork for some of the most requested features that will follow pretty soon.
If you like the new version of the app, we would appreciate your feedback via the app or a review on the App Store.
Other improvements:
- IPA character sets are dialect dependent now. We added Gimson's set to the British dialect. This will use character [e] instead of [ɛ].
- The app uses a dedicated audio session for speech synthesis now. No more "no sound bug", when you forget you've got the mute switch on.
- Much better LTR-language layout support.
- A few misbehaviour scenarios on later iOS versions has been fixed too.
- Dictionary updates as usual.
Transcription engine options (dialect and weak forms) are now accessible from the input screen.
Transcription presentation options are now accessible right from the IPA screen.
More importantly though, this update lays the groundwork for some of the most requested features that will follow pretty soon.
If you like the new version of the app, we would appreciate your feedback via the app or a review on the App Store.
Other improvements:
- IPA character sets are dialect dependent now. We added Gimson's set to the British dialect. This will use character [e] instead of [ɛ].
- The app uses a dedicated audio session for speech synthesis now. No more "no sound bug", when you forget you've got the mute switch on.
- Much better LTR-language layout support.
- A few misbehaviour scenarios on later iOS versions has been fixed too.
- Dictionary updates as usual.
1.4.4
Oct 15, 2015
- This iOS 9 update fixes minor UI issues when running on iOS 9;
- Dictionary update as usual.
- Dictionary update as usual.
1.4.3
Aug 29, 2015
In this update we have optimised the app to address the issue with older devices running iOS7 where the IPA output would be significantly delayed, leaving the screen blank. iOS8 users may notice faster output as well.
Note: We plan to remove iOS7 support in our future updates. Please, send us a message from the app's settings screen if you have any questions.
Note: We plan to remove iOS7 support in our future updates. Please, send us a message from the app's settings screen if you have any questions.
1.4.2
Aug 12, 2015
- new configuration option to automatically copy original word to pasteboard from IPA screen;
- dictionary update;
- partial American dictionary clean-up: removed duplicates and dialect-specific pronunciations;
- minor bugfix;
Note: We plan to remove iOS7 support in our future updates. Please, send us a message from the app's settings screen if you have any questions.
- dictionary update;
- partial American dictionary clean-up: removed duplicates and dialect-specific pronunciations;
- minor bugfix;
Note: We plan to remove iOS7 support in our future updates. Please, send us a message from the app's settings screen if you have any questions.
1.4.1
May 1, 2015
- A tap on selected text displays copy menu.
- New option in copy menu: copy original word of the selected IPA to pasteboard.
- Current transcription settings can be displayed in the title on IPA screen now. Tap on the title to toggle it on/off.
- Improved transcription of some weak forms.
- Morphology engine is now stricter towards some inflexible words.
- Dictionary updates.
- Fixed developer's email in settings. Apologies to those who sent a message and didn't get a reply.
- New option in copy menu: copy original word of the selected IPA to pasteboard.
- Current transcription settings can be displayed in the title on IPA screen now. Tap on the title to toggle it on/off.
- Improved transcription of some weak forms.
- Morphology engine is now stricter towards some inflexible words.
- Dictionary updates.
- Fixed developer's email in settings. Apologies to those who sent a message and didn't get a reply.
1.4.0
Jan 28, 2015
Don't you like it when a good app gets even better? We do. That's why there's a bunch of great stuff packed with this update. We would appreciate if you left a review in the App Store. Thanks!
- The IPA transcription screen is gesture-driven now. You can tap, double-tap, slide and pinch (more details below).
- Speech controls have been simplified down to one and a half buttons... or thereabouts.
- Speak a single word (tap) or selection (select with a horizontal swipe).
- If not shown in a dictionary often enough, words suffer depression and runny nose. That's why we made this feature available for any word in the output (with a double-tap).
- Size matters. Set the one you prefer for the output font with pinch gesture.
- Improved handling of acronyms and hyphenated words.
- Massive dictionary update, lots of new words and corrections.
- Bug fixes (it should export OK to Evernote and other 3rd party apps now).
Gestures (IPA transcription screen):
1. Single tap
- Tap a word to set the cursor to it and speak it (you can mute/un-mute it with the button at your bottom-right).
- Tap in a blank space to stop speech and hide the cursor.
2. Double-tap
- Double-tap a word to open it in the built-in dictionary; if the word has multiple pronunciations you'll see the list of them first.
- Double-tap in a blank space to reset the font to the size set in iOS preferences.
3. Pinch in or out to make the text smaller or larger.
4. Start to slide horizontally to select a part of your text. The Speak button respects current selection.
- The IPA transcription screen is gesture-driven now. You can tap, double-tap, slide and pinch (more details below).
- Speech controls have been simplified down to one and a half buttons... or thereabouts.
- Speak a single word (tap) or selection (select with a horizontal swipe).
- If not shown in a dictionary often enough, words suffer depression and runny nose. That's why we made this feature available for any word in the output (with a double-tap).
- Size matters. Set the one you prefer for the output font with pinch gesture.
- Improved handling of acronyms and hyphenated words.
- Massive dictionary update, lots of new words and corrections.
- Bug fixes (it should export OK to Evernote and other 3rd party apps now).
Gestures (IPA transcription screen):
1. Single tap
- Tap a word to set the cursor to it and speak it (you can mute/un-mute it with the button at your bottom-right).
- Tap in a blank space to stop speech and hide the cursor.
2. Double-tap
- Double-tap a word to open it in the built-in dictionary; if the word has multiple pronunciations you'll see the list of them first.
- Double-tap in a blank space to reset the font to the size set in iOS preferences.
3. Pinch in or out to make the text smaller or larger.
4. Start to slide horizontally to select a part of your text. The Speak button respects current selection.
1.3.2
Oct 30, 2014
- Now you can output the text and its phonetic transcription along each other line-by-line to make back-reference to the original text easier
- User-defined colour scheme
- Dictionary updates
- Bug fixes
- User-defined colour scheme
- Dictionary updates
- Bug fixes
1.3.1
Oct 8, 2014
- Optimised for iOS 8.
- Custom brackets: use a pair of characters of your choice to enclose each transcribed word.
- Selection dialog for words with multiple pronunciations lets you see the word in the built-in iOS dictionary.
- Set your preferred speech rate in settings.
- Option to transcribe using katakana characters for Japanese users.
- Custom brackets: use a pair of characters of your choice to enclose each transcribed word.
- Selection dialog for words with multiple pronunciations lets you see the word in the built-in iOS dictionary.
- Set your preferred speech rate in settings.
- Option to transcribe using katakana characters for Japanese users.
1.2.3
Aug 26, 2014
- support for Japanese and Chinese languages
1.2.2
Jun 23, 2014
- The app lets you choose between British and American dialects now.
1.2.1
May 2, 2014
- Let the built-in speech synthesiser read your text out loud. Control the playback and follow IPA transcription of the current word with a highlight.
- Button to clear input text.
- Recognition of derived forms improved even more.
- Amendments and corrections to the dictionary.
- Button to clear input text.
- Recognition of derived forms improved even more.
- Amendments and corrections to the dictionary.
toPhonetics Converter FAQ
Click here to learn how to download toPhonetics Converter in restricted country or region.
Check the following list to see the minimum requirements of toPhonetics Converter.
iPhone
Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
iPad
Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.
iPod touch
Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
toPhonetics Converter supports English, Filipino, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
