Word Voice Dictation

Write faster in Word without losing your train of thought.

Hold a key. Speak your thoughts. Keep your flow.

Write where you work

Aqua is a system-wide dictation layer for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. On a Mac or Windows PC, hold a key in a Word document and speak, and your words appear on the page, punctuated and formatted, at up to 230 words per minute.

Microsoft Word

Build the first paragraph

This proposal outlines a four-week pilot for the support team. We’ll measure response time, resolution quality, and the amount of manual work each case requires.
Illustrative dictation. Review the text before you use it.

How to dictate in Microsoft Word with Aqua

Start in the place in the document where you want to write. Aqua puts your words into the field you have focused.

  1. [01]

    Download Aqua for Mac or Windows and grant microphone access, plus Accessibility access on macOS.
  2. [02]

    Pick your hold-to-talk key in Aqua's settings.
  3. [03]

    Open your Word document and place the cursor where you want the text.
  4. [04]

    Hold your key, speak a paragraph, and release. Punctuation and capitalisation come out formatted.
  5. [05]

    Add proper nouns, client names, and field-specific terminology to your custom dictionary.

Tips for dictating in Microsoft Word

  • Draft in long passes and edit after. A first draft you spoke in ten minutes beats a polished paragraph you typed in thirty.
  • Speak in full sentences. Aqua punctuates from the shape of your speech, so trailing off mid-clause is what produces odd output.
  • Field vocabulary belongs in the custom dictionary: legal, medical, and academic terms are exactly what a general model gets wrong.
  • The same key works in comments and tracked changes, which is usually where the back-and-forth actually lives.

Does Microsoft Word have built-in voice dictation?

Yes. Word has a Dictate button on the Home tab, and with a Microsoft 365 subscription it works well. If you write only in Word and only in one language, it may be all you need. Two things push people past it. It is Word-only, so the moment you move to Slack, your browser, or your email you are back to typing, and it does not learn your vocabulary. Aqua uses one key across every app on your machine, supports 49 languages, and takes a custom dictionary, so the names and terms specific to your work stop coming out wrong.

Built for the way you work

97.4% key-term accuracy on AISpeak-10, a SOC 2 Type II audit report, and 49 languages, on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. Start free with 1,000 lifetime words. Pro is $8 a month billed annually.

Explore the Product Guides

Powered by Avalon

Aqua refining dictated text in real time

Your words, perfected by AI

Aqua’s model trained on real workflows to understand natural speech, correct grammar, and preserve every word while refining your text in real time.

Dictionary

Aqua custom dictionary interface

Custom dictionary

Teach Aqua the words you use most, like names, brands, or technical terms, and watch accuracy improve instantly.

Custom prompting

Aqua writing style rules

Writing style, your way

Set your tone and rules. From lowercase Slack messages to structured docs, Aqua adapts to your preferences automatically.

49 Languages

Aqua multilingual speech model globe graphic

Speaks your language

Understands 49 languages with clarity and precision, adapting naturally to how you speak.

Private History

Aqua private transcript history interface

Secure transcript history

Access your past transcripts any time. Turn on Privacy Mode and nothing is stored on our servers at all.

Better Accuracy

Avalon
97.4%
Whisper Large v3
65.1%

AISpeak-10 · English technical-term recognition. Method and Results

Our Model in your hands

Avalon scored 97.4% key-term accuracy on AISpeak-10, our English technical-speech benchmark. Learn How Avalon Works.

What Aqua Voice customers say

Used by people at

  • Netflix
  • Spotify
  • Honda
  • Zendesk
  • Toyota
  • Block
  • DoorDash
  • Yamaha
  • Salesforce
  • ByteDance
  • HubSpot
  • Suntory
  • ElevenLabs
  • Atlassian

Frequently asked questions

Does Word already have dictation?

Yes. Word has a built-in Dictate button on the Home tab with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Aqua's difference is that it works everywhere else too, supports 49 languages, and learns your vocabulary.

How is Aqua different from Word's Dictate?

One key across every app rather than one button in one app, plus a custom dictionary for your own names and terms, and 49 languages.

Does it work in comments and tracked changes?

Yes. Aqua types into whatever field has focus, including comment boxes.

Does it work on Windows?

Yes. Aqua runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android.

How much does it cost?

Free includes 1,000 words. With annual billing, Pro is $8 per month, Max is $24 per month, and Business is $19 per seat per month with a minimum of 2 seats.

Dictate in other apps

Aqua works in every text box on your Mac, Windows PC, iPhone, and Android phone. These are some of the apps people use it in most.