Suno Pronunciation Fix Guide: 60+ Phonetic Fixes That Actually Work

The complete phonetic dictionary for Suno AI. Stop wasting credits on mispronounced words.

Why Suno Mispronounces Words

Suno's AI model predicts pronunciation from spelling patterns in its training data. It has no dictionary, no phonetic rules, and no IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) support. When it encounters a word, it essentially asks: "What do words that look like this usually sound like?"

This works fine for common, regularly-spelled words. It fails on:

• Silent letters — "knight" looks like it should start with a K sound
• Homographs — "read" can be "reed" or "red" depending on tense
• Irregular spelling — "colonel" doesn't sound anything like it looks
• Acronyms — "AI" could be "aye" or "A-I"
• Proper nouns — Names have no predictable pattern
• Foreign loanwords — "genre," "debris," "fiancé"
• Numbers and dates — "2024" could be "two thousand twenty-four" or "twenty twenty-four"

Suno v5 vs v4: Version 5 handles standard English vocabulary more naturally and requires fewer workarounds for common words. However, it still fails on the same fundamental categories listed above. Every fix in this guide works for both versions.

The Phonetic Fix Method

When you hear a mispronounced word in a Suno generation, follow these steps:

1. Listen and identify — Play your generation, note which specific words sound wrong. Write them down.
2. Classify the problem — Is it a silent letter? Homograph? Acronym? Name? Each category has a specific fix technique.
3. Pick the right technique:
   • Simplified spelling — Replace with phonetic equivalent: through → thru
   • Hyphenation — Split into syllables: tonight → to-night
   • Spacing — Separate letters: AI → A I
   • Spell out — Write the full words: 24/7 → twenty four seven
   • Homophone swap — Use a word that sounds right: your → yore
   • Phonetic respell — Write how it sounds: colonel → kernel
4. Apply the fix in your lyrics, keeping everything else the same.
5. Regenerate and listen to the fixed word specifically.
6. Iterate if needed — Some words need 2-3 different phonetic approaches before they sound right. If the first fix doesn't work, try a different technique from the list above.

Silent Letters & Irregular Spelling

English has hundreds of words where the spelling doesn't match the sound. These are the most common ones that trip up Suno.

Homographs — Same Word, Different Sound

These are the trickiest pronunciation problems in Suno. The same spelling has multiple valid pronunciations, and Suno picks the wrong one. The fix: replace the ambiguous word with a phonetic spelling that forces the pronunciation you want.

Common Lyric Words That Sound Wrong

These everyday words frequently get mangled in sung lyrics because of how Suno handles syllable boundaries, contractions, and casual speech patterns.

Acronyms & Abbreviations

Suno doesn't know if an abbreviation should be read as letters or as a word. The safe approach: always add hyphens or spaces between letters, or spell the word out entirely.

Numbers & Dates

Never use raw numbers in Suno lyrics. The model can't reliably decide how to pronounce them. Always spell numbers out as full words.

Proper Nouns & Names

Names have the highest failure rate in Suno. The model has no reliable reference for how a name should sound, especially for:

• Uncommon first names (Evie, Siobhan, Aoife)
• Place names (Worcestershire, Leicester, Yosemite)
• Biblical or historical names (Kedesh, Selah, Amalekite)
• Brand names and neologisms (any invented word)

The approach:

1. Test names first. Before writing a full song around a name, generate a short 30-second clip with just a verse containing the name. If it sounds wrong, fix it before committing to a full generation.
2. Spell phonetically on first use: Evie → Ee-vee, Siobhan → Shi-vawn
3. Be consistent. Use the same phonetic spelling every time the name appears in the song.
4. Consider alternatives. If a name resists all phonetic fixes, use a nickname or simpler variant.

Emphasis & Vocal Control Techniques

Beyond fixing wrong pronunciation, you can control how Suno delivers words using these text formatting techniques:

Metatags That Improve Vocal Clarity

Suno has no metatags specifically for pronunciation. But these vocal delivery tags improve overall clarity and enunciation, making pronunciation issues less noticeable:

Best for Clear Pronunciation

• [Staccato] — Crisp, separated syllables. Best overall tag for enunciation.
• [Spoken Word] — Speaking voice instead of singing. Clearest pronunciation.
• [Operatic] — Dramatic, precise articulation.
• [Crisp] — Clean vocal tone that highlights each word.

Delivery Style Tags

• [Airy], [Breathy] — Soft, intimate. Can blur words slightly.
• [Belted], [Powerful] — Strong delivery. Good clarity on choruses.
• [Whispered] — Quiet but often surprisingly clear on individual words.
• [Falsetto], [Head Voice] — Higher register. May affect word clarity.

For the full list of all Suno style tags and how they affect output, see the complete style tags reference (300+ tags with categories).

Before & After Examples

Here's what phonetic fixes look like in practice. Each "Before" version contains words that Suno commonly mispronounces. The "After" version applies the fixes from this guide.

Example 1: Pop Ballad

[Verse]
I'm gonna read through your letters tonight
Something inside me says this ain't right
Live from the heart, gonna record every sound
24/7, your love is all around

[Verse]
I'm gunna red thru yore letters to-night
Some-thing in-side me says this ain't rite
Laiv from the heart, gunna ri-kord every sound
Twenty four seven, yore love is all around

Example 2: Hip-Hop Verse

[Verse]
Because the bass is rough enough to shake the ground
Wind through the city, DJ spinning sounds
Everything close, the lead is in my veins
AI running through these streets like midnight trains

[Verse]
Becuz the bayss is ruff enuff to shake the ground
Wynd thru the city, dee-jay spinning sounds
Ev-ree-thing kloz, the led is in my veins
A-I running thru these streets like midnight trains

Example 3: Emotional Chorus with Emphasis

[Chorus]
I need you forever
Together through the night
Your love is everything

[Chorus]
I NEED you for-ever
To-gether thru the night
Yore lo-o-ove is ev-ree-thing

Frequently Asked Questions