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

# Rime phonetic alphabet

> Reference for Rime's phonetic alphabet used to specify custom pronunciations on English Mist v3.

<Note>Custom pronunciation is supported on **English Mist v3**. Coda and non-English Mist v3 do not support `phonemizeBetweenBrackets`.</Note>

Rime uses its own phonetic alphabet, inspired by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), to let you specify exactly how a word should sound. You provide a phonetic string inside curly brackets and set `phonemizeBetweenBrackets: true` on the request. For the full request mechanic, see [Custom pronunciation](/docs/custom-pronunciation).

For example, the word `custom` is represented as `{k1Ast0xm}`. Even made-up words work; `gorbulets` becomes `{g1orby0ul2Ets}`.

## Vowels

| Symbol | Use in an English word |
| - | - |
| @ | b**a**t |
| a | h**o**t |
| A | b**u**tt |
| W | ab**ou**t |
| x | comm**a** |
| Y | b**i**te |
| E | b**e**t |
| R | b**ir**d, forew**or**d |
| e | b**ai**t |
| I | b**i**t |
| i | b**ea**t |
| o | b**oa**t |
| O | b**oy** |
| U | b**oo**k |
| u | b**oo**t |
| N | butt**on** |

## Consonants

| Symbol | Use in an English word |
| - | - |
| b | **b**uy |
| C | **Ch**ina |
| d | **d**ie |
| D | **th**y |
| f | **f**ight |
| g | **g**uy |
| h | **h**igh |
| J | **j**ive |
| k | **k**ite |
| l | **l**ie |
| m | **m**y |
| n | **n**igh |
| G | si**ng** |
| p | **p**ie |
| r | **r**ye |
| s | **s**igh |
| S | **sh**y |
| t | **t**ie |
| T | **th**igh |
| v | **v**ie |
| w | **w**ise |
| y | **y**acht |
| z | **z**oo |
| Z | plea**s**ure |

## Stress

For **primary stress**, put `1` before the relevant vowel. For example, `comma` is `{k1am0x}`.

For **secondary stress**, put `2` in front of the relevant vowel. For example, `auctioneer` is `{2akS0In1ir}`.

All other vowels should have a `0` in front of them.

## Generating a string automatically

Post a recording of the word to the [Phonemize API](/api-reference/other/phonemize) and it returns a transcription in this alphabet, stress markers included:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://optimize.rime.ai/phonemize \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer $RIME_API_KEY" \
     -H "Content-Type: audio/wav" \
     --data-binary @speech.wav
# => {"audioId": "...", "phonemeString": "h0El1o !", "authed": 1}
```

Strip any trailing punctuation token from `phonemeString`, then use the symbol tables above to fine-tune the result if a vowel or stress placement isn't quite right.

## Related

* [Custom pronunciation](/docs/custom-pronunciation): how to use phonetic strings in API requests
* [Pronunciation control](/platform/pronunciation-control): overview of checking coverage, custom pronunciations, and dictionary additions
* [Coverage API](/api-reference/other/oov): check whether words are in Rime's dictionary before writing a custom pronunciation
* [Phonemize API](/api-reference/other/phonemize): generate a phonetic string from an audio recording of the word


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