Yes. You can insert mid‑utterance pauses in ElevenLabs voice output by adding the SSML break tag in the text your agent sends to TTS, for example: <break time="1.5s" />. Pauses up to 3.0 seconds are supported and are rendered as natural timing, not just silence. (elevenlabs.io)
Practical notes:
Place the break tag where you want the pause in the agent’s generated text; the TTS engine will honor it. Avoid overusing breaks in a single generation, as it can cause instability. (elevenlabs.io)
In Studio, “Insert break” creates the same tag and confirms the 3‑second maximum; some newer models may reduce or ignore break tags in favor of natural flow. (elevenlabs.io)
For a turn‑level pause (agent stays silent and waits for the user), use the Skip Turn tool instead of an in‑sentence break. (elevenlabs.io)
Models commonly used for agents (e.g., Eleven Flash v2, Eleven Turbo v2) support these controls. (elevenlabs.io)
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