Question: ```
say -v Alex "Hello"

```

Is there a way to change the speed of speech like there is in the speech settings of *System Preferences* -> *Date & Time* -> *Clock* -> *Customize Voice*?

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/XpeWm.png)

Answer: 
There is also an [embedded speech command](https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/SpeechSynthesisProgrammingGuide/FineTuning/FineTuning.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40004365-CH5-SW3) for changing the rate:

```
say '[[rate 200]] hello'

```
FWIW: I'm on Big Sur and the `-r`/`--rate` is simply ignored. However, the embedded command as described by [@lri](https://superuser.com/users/69039/lri) still works.

P.S. I see in an earlier comment that 10.13 also had that issue. Well...