---
name: "flite"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "flite"
version: "2.2-7"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/flite"
---

# flite(1)

A small simple speech synthesizer

## NAME

flite - A small simple speech synthesizer

## SYNOPSIS

**flite** \[*OPTION*\]... *TEXTFILE* \[*WAVEFILE*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **flite** command. This manual page was written for the Debian distribution because the original program does not have a manual page. Instead, it has documentation in /usr/share/doc/flite/

Converts text in TEXTFILE to a waveform in WAVEFILE. If text contains a space, it is treated as a literal textstring and spoken, and not as a file name. if WAVEFILE is unspecified or "play" the result is played on the current systems audio device.  If WAVEFILE is "none" the waveform is discarded (good for benchmarking)

## OPTIONS

- **--version**

  Output **flite** version number.

- **-?**, **--help**

  Output usage information.

- **-o** WAVEFILE

  Explicitly set output filename.

- **-f** TEXTFILE

  Explicitly set input filename.

- **-t** TEXT

  Explicitly set input text string.

- **-p** PHONES

  Explicitly set input text string and synthesize as phones.

- **-s**, **--set** FEATURE=VALUE

  Set feature (guesses type).

- **--seti** FEATURE=VALUE

  Set int feature.

- **--setf** FEATURE=VALUE

  Set float feature.

- **--sets** FEATURE=VALUE

  Set string feature.

- **-b**

  Benchmark mode.

- **-l**

  Loop endlessly.

- **-v**

  Verbose output.

## SEE ALSO

[**flite\_time**(1)](/flite_time/1.md), t2p**(1),** [**festival**(1)](/festival/1.md)

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Mario Lang \<mlang@debian.org\>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).