Ekphonetic notation consists of symbols added to certain sacred texts, especially lectionary readings of Biblical texts, as a mnemonic device to assist in their cantillation. Ekphonetic notation can take a number of forms, and has been used in several Jewish and Christian plainchant traditions, but is most commonly associated with Byzantine chant.^{[citation needed]}

Joseph Huzaya introduced ekphonetic notation into Syriac in the early 6th century.^{[citation needed]}

Ekphonetic notation ceased to be used about the fourteenth century. In many cases, the original meaning of ekphonetic neumes is obscure, and must be reconstructed by comparison with later notation.^{[citation needed]}