> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fish.audio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Emotion & Expression Control

> Make your AI voices express emotions naturally

## Overview

Control how your AI voice expresses emotions, from happy and excited to sad and contemplative. Add natural pauses, laughter, and other human-like elements to make speech more engaging.

<Tip>
  The `(parenthesis)` syntax on this page applies to the S1 model. S2 uses `[bracket]` syntax with natural language descriptions and is not limited to a fixed set of tags. See the [Models Overview](/developer-guide/models-pricing/models-overview#s2-natural-language-control) for details.
</Tip>

## How to Use

Simply wrap emotion tags in parentheses before your text:

```
(happy) What a beautiful day!
(sad) I'm sorry to hear that.
(excited) This is amazing news!
```

Include tone markers or audio effects:

```
(whispering) Let me tell you something.
(laughing) Ha ha ha, wow that's so funny!
```

## Important Rules

### Placement Matters

**For all languages:**

* Emotion tags MUST go at the beginning of sentences
* Tone controls can go anywhere in the text
* Sound effects can go anywhere in the text

**Correct:**

```
(happy) What a wonderful day!
```

**Incorrect:**

```
What a (happy) wonderful day!
```

## Best Practices

**Do:**

* Use one emotion per sentence
* Add sounds after relevant words
* Keep tags simple and clear
* Test different combinations

**Don't:**

* Overuse tags in short text
* Mix conflicting emotions
* Create custom tags
* Forget the parentheses

## Available Emotions

See the [Emotion Control guide](/developer-guide/core-features/emotions) for the full list of supported emotions.

## Scene Examples

**Customer Service:**

```
(friendly) Hello! How can I help you today?
(empathetic) I understand your frustration.
(confident) I'll resolve this for you right away.
```

**Storytelling:**

```
(mysterious)(whispering) Once upon a midnight dreary...
(excited) Suddenly, the door burst open!
(scared)(shouting) Run for your lives!
```

**Educational Content:**

```
(enthusiastic) Welcome to today's lesson!
(curious) Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue?
(proud) Great job! You got it right!
```

## Real-World Examples

### Virtual Assistant

```
(friendly) Good morning! 
(helpful) I've prepared your schedule for today.
(concerned) You have three urgent emails.
(encouraging) Let's tackle them together!
```

### Audiobook Narration

```
(narrator) Chapter One: The Beginning
(mysterious) The old house stood silent in the fog.
(scared)(whispering) "Is anyone there?" she asked.
(relieved)(sighing) No one answered. Phew.
```

### Game Character

```
(brave) I'll defeat the dragon!
(struggling)(panting) This is... harder than... I thought!
(triumphant)(shouting) Victory is mine!
(laughing) Ha ha ha!
```

## Advanced Techniques

### Emotion Transitions

Gradually change emotions:

```
(happy) I got the promotion!
(uncertain) But... it means moving away.
(sad) I'll miss everyone here.
```

### Background Effects

Add atmosphere:

```
The comedy show was amazing (audience laughing)
Everyone was having fun (background laughter)
The crowd loved it (crowd laughing)
```

## Troubleshooting

### Emotion Not Working?

1. Check tag placement (beginning of sentence for emotions)
2. Verify spelling exactly matches the list
3. Don't use quotes around tags
4. Include parentheses

### Unnatural Sound?

* Add appropriate text after sound tags
* Don't overuse in short sentences
* Space out emotional changes
* Test with different voices

### Tips for Success

1. **Start simple** - Use basic emotions first
2. **Preview often** - Test how it sounds
3. **Be consistent** - Keep character emotions logical
4. **Less is more** - Don't overuse tags

## Get Creative

Experiment with combinations to create unique character voices and engaging narratives. The key is finding the right balance between emotional expression and natural speech flow.

## Support

Need help with emotions?

* **Try it live:** [fish.audio](https://fish.audio)
* **Community:** [Discord](https://discord.gg/fish-audio)
* **Email:** [support@fish.audio](mailto:support@fish.audio)