> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cartesia.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Pronunciations

> Specify custom pronunciations for words that are hard to get right, like proper nouns or domain-specific terms.

Pronunciation dictionaries let you specify how to pronounce specific words and phrases.

A dictionary is a simple search and replace, which directs the model to use another string in lieu of the text from the transcript. The pronunciation can be either an [IPA pronunciation](/build-with-cartesia/capability-guides/phonemes) or a "sounds-like" guidance:

```json lines theme={null}
[
  {
    "text": "bayou",
    "pronunciation": "<<ˈ|b|ɑ|ˈ|j|u>>"
  },
  {
    "text": "jambalaya",
    "pronunciation": "<<ˈ|dʒ|ə|m|ˈ|b|ə|ˈ|l|aɪ|ˈ|ə>>"
  },
  {
    "text": "tchoupitoulas",
    "pronunciation": "chop-uh-TOO-liss"
  },
  {
    "text": "new york",
    "pronunciation": "ny",
    "case_sensitive": false
  }
]
```

Save these JSONs as pronunciation dictionaries [through our API](/api-reference/pronunciation-dicts/create) or through our [playground](https://play.cartesia.ai/pronunciation):

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/cartesia-2650f86a/e1mnuMNt5eyESNEd/images/image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=e1mnuMNt5eyESNEd&q=85&s=e5284d8275a53cb69e1fef0f32ccca4c" alt="image.png" width="1264" height="414" data-path="images/image.png" />

Once a dictionary is created, use it in any TTS API by passing its id as `pronunciation_dict_id`.

With the dictionary above, the string `I ate some jambalaya on tchoupitoulas street` becomes `I ate some <<ˈ|dʒ|ə|m|ˈ|b|ə|ˈ|l|aɪ|ˈ|ə>> on chop-uh-TOO-liss street` before being handed off to the model.

## Case sensitivity

Each entry has a `case_sensitive` flag. The default is `false`.

When `case_sensitive` is `false`, `new york` matches `New York`, `NEW YORK`, and any other capitalization. Case-insensitive matching requires Sonic 3.6+.

When `case_sensitive` is `true`, a lowercase key also matches sentence-start capitalization (`cat` / `Cat`, not `CAT`). Mixed-case keys match only that spelling (`LaTeX` does not match `latex`).

The API rejects two entries that would collide under these rules, for example `latex` and `LaTeX` when either is case-insensitive.

Use `false` for common words when you want every capitalization. Use `true` when case distinguishes words, such as `LaTeX` (typesetting) vs `latex` (rubber).

## Sharing a dictionary

New dictionaries are private by default, so only your organization can use them. To use this pronunciation dictionary for Text-to-Speech generation in an external account, set its access to public.

* **In the dashboard**: open the [Pronunciation tab](https://play.cartesia.ai/pronunciation), use the three-dots menu next to a dictionary, and select **Share**.
* **Via the API**: call the [Update Pronunciation Dictionary API](/api-reference/pronunciation-dicts/update) and set `access.type` to `public`. Set it back to `private` to stop sharing.

To see which dictionaries are currently shared, call the [List Pronunciation Dictionaries API](/api-reference/pronunciation-dicts/list) and look for entries with `access.type` set to `public`.