Forvo

Forvo

Forvo is an online pronunciation dictionary that allows users to listen to audio recordings of how words and phrases are pronounced in different languages. Contributors record their own voice pronouncing words and phrases, helping build the database.
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Forvo: Pronunciation Dictionary

Online pronunciation dictionary where users can listen to audio recordings of how words and phrases are pronounced in different languages

What is Forvo?

Forvo is an online pronunciation and dictionary website and app that crowdsources audio recordings of words and phrases in different languages, helping people learn how to properly pronounce them. It serves as a unique repository of millions of words and expressions pronounced by native speakers.

The key feature of Forvo is its community-driven collection of pronunciations. Anyone can contribute their own recordings, with review processes to approve recordings by native and fluent speakers. In addition to standard dictionary words, Forvo includes pronunciations of names, specialized terminology, slang, regional words, and more contributed by users.

Visitors to the site can search for a word or phrase and listen to numerous recordings of native pronunciations. This helps language learners, travelers, or anyone else wishing to learn pronunciation for practical communication. Audio playback allows quick comparison between different speakers. Users can also slow down recordings to better distinguish difficult sounds.

With over 2 million registered users and 20 million recorded pronunciations spanning over 350 languages as of 2022, Forvo aims to be the primary destination for listening to native audio recordings of vocabulary terms. The site maintains an active user community engaged in submitting and evaluating new pronunciations.

Forvo Features

Features

  1. Audio recordings of word and phrase pronunciations in different languages
  2. Ability for users to contribute recordings of their own voice
  3. Dictionary/database of pronunciations
  4. Listen to multiple recordings of the same word/phrase
  5. View pronunciation information like phonetic spelling

Pricing

  • Freemium

Pros

Free access to a large database of pronunciations

Hear native speakers pronounce words/phrases

Help improve pronunciation skills

Crowdsourced model allows rapid growth of content

Cons

Quality of recordings can vary

Limited to words/phrases that contributors have recorded

No ability to request a pronunciation

Some languages have less content


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