diff --git a/imgsrc/srv/bullhorn.svg b/imgsrc/srv/bullhorn.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b5a4a0f133
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imgsrc/srv/bullhorn.svg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg width="1792" height="1792" viewBox="0 0 1792 1792" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M1664 640q53 0 90.5 37.5t37.5 90.5-37.5 90.5-90.5 37.5v384q0 52-38 90t-90 38q-417-347-812-380-58 19-91 66t-31 100.5 40 92.5q-20 33-23 65.5t6 58 33.5 55 48 50 61.5 50.5q-29 58-111.5 83t-168.5 11.5-132-55.5q-7-23-29.5-87.5t-32-94.5-23-89-15-101 3.5-98.5 22-110.5h-122q-66 0-113-47t-47-113v-192q0-66 47-113t113-47h480q435 0 896-384 52 0 90 38t38 90v384zm-128 604v-954q-394 302-768 343v270q377 42 768 341z"/></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/tts/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/calibre/utils/tts/__init__.py
rename to src/calibre/gui2/tts/__init__.py
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/errors.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1651001559
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+
+class TTSSystemUnavailable(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, message, details):
+        Exception.__init__(self, message)
+        self.short_msg = message
+        self.details = details
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/implementation.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/implementation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..48768d3d4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/implementation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+from calibre.constants import iswindows, ismacos
+
+if iswindows:
+    pass
+elif ismacos:
+    pass
+else:
+    from .linux import speak_simple_text
+
+speak_simple_text
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81d99d6846
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+import atexit
+from .errors import TTSSystemUnavailable
+
+
+def get_client():
+    client = getattr(get_client, 'ans', None)
+    if client is not None:
+        return client
+    from speechd.client import SSIPClient, SpawnError
+    try:
+        client = get_client.ans = SSIPClient('calibre')
+    except SpawnError as err:
+        raise TTSSystemUnavailable(_('Could not find speech-dispatcher on your system. Please install it.'), str(err))
+    atexit.register(client.close)
+    return client
+
+
+def speak_simple_text(text):
+    client = get_client()
+    from speechd.client import SSIPCommunicationError
+    try:
+        client.speak(text)
+    except SSIPCommunicationError:
+        get_client.ans = None
+        client = get_client()
+        client.speak(text)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
index c1b987a70e..9ee6bc9d1b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ class ViewerBridge(Bridge):
     close_prep_finished = from_js(object)
     highlights_changed = from_js(object)
     open_url = from_js(object)
+    speak_simple_text = from_js(object)
 
     create_view = to_js()
     start_book_load = to_js()
@@ -514,6 +515,7 @@ class WebView(RestartingWebEngineView):
         self.bridge.close_prep_finished.connect(self.close_prep_finished)
         self.bridge.highlights_changed.connect(self.highlights_changed)
         self.bridge.open_url.connect(safe_open_url)
+        self.bridge.speak_simple_text.connect(self.speak_simple_text)
         self.bridge.export_shortcut_map.connect(self.set_shortcut_map)
         self.shortcut_map = {}
         self.bridge.report_cfi.connect(self.call_callback)
@@ -527,6 +529,10 @@ class WebView(RestartingWebEngineView):
             self.inspector = Inspector(parent.inspector_dock.toggleViewAction(), self)
             parent.inspector_dock.setWidget(self.inspector)
 
+    def speak_simple_text(self, text):
+        from calibre.gui2.tts.implementation import speak_simple_text
+        speak_simple_text(text)
+
     def set_shortcut_map(self, smap):
         self.shortcut_map = smap
         self.shortcuts_changed.emit(smap)
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/selection_bar.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/selection_bar.pyj
index f363235e2c..1a0f4d521b 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/selection_bar.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/selection_bar.pyj
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ def all_actions():
             'search_net': a('global-search', _('Search for selection on the net'), 'internet_search'),
             'remove_highlight': a('trash', _('Remove this highlight'), 'remove_highlight', True),
             'clear': a('close', _('Clear selection'), 'clear_selection'),
+            'speak': a('bullhorn', _('Speak aloud'), 'speak_aloud'),
         }
         qh = all_actions.ans.quick_highlight
         qh.icon_function = quick_highlight_icon.bind(None, qh.icon, qh.text)
@@ -950,6 +951,11 @@ class SelectionBar:
         self.view.on_handle_shortcut({'name': 'clear_selection'})
         self.hide()
 
+    def speak_aloud(self):
+        text = self.view.currently_showing.selection.text
+        if text:
+            ui_operations.speak_simple_text(text)
+
     def create_highlight(self):
         cs = self.view.currently_showing.selection
         hs = self.current_highlight_style
diff --git a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
index add3a0eb07..8b0aafb2c7 100644
--- a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
@@ -398,6 +398,8 @@ if window is window.top:
     ui_operations.annots_changed = def(amap):
         if amap.highlight:
             to_python.highlights_changed(amap.highlight)
+    ui_operations.speak_simple_text = def(text):
+        to_python.speak_simple_text(text)
 
     document.body.appendChild(E.div(id='view'))
     window.onerror = onerror