diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ea37d3f..98c379c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ dependencies.
 | `talk test` | speak a test sentence; shows provider and timings (`--lang`, `--provider`, `--voice`); `--toast` sends a test notification instead |
 | `talk doctor` | self-diagnosis: config, daemon, audio, providers, notifications, mute, laws (`--probe`, `--json`) |
 | `talk setup` | first-time setup in a few questions: language, voices with preview, quiet hours, config.toml |
+| `talk version` | version and commit (also `talk --version`) |
 
 Say flags (also for `talk "text"`): `--wait`, `--now`, `--priority`,
 `--voice`, `--lang`, `--provider`.
diff --git a/cmd/talk/cli.go b/cmd/talk/cli.go
index dca823b..a61230d 100644
--- a/cmd/talk/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/talk/cli.go
@@ -112,6 +112,15 @@ var commands = []command{
 		detail:  "Asks a few questions for what talk needs to get going: keys (optional; without a key the free Edge voice speaks), a voice per language with preview, quiet hours, and writes config.toml (an existing file is merged, backup .bak). Without a terminal: only shows the effective configuration.",
 		handler: runSetup,
 	},
+	{
+		name:   "version",
+		short:  "show the version",
+		detail: "Prints the version and, when built from git, the commit. Same as `talk --version`; exists so that a bare `talk version` is not spoken as an announcement.",
+		handler: func(_ []string, _ *sayOptions, _ io.Reader, stdout, _ io.Writer) int {
+			fmt.Fprintln(stdout, versionString())
+			return exitOK
+		},
+	},
 }
 
 // addSayFlags registers the say flags and binds them to the returned options
diff --git a/cmd/talk/cli_test.go b/cmd/talk/cli_test.go
index 32d7875..2cd0563 100644
--- a/cmd/talk/cli_test.go
+++ b/cmd/talk/cli_test.go
@@ -52,6 +52,18 @@ func TestVersionDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestVersionSubcommand: `talk version` prints the version instead of
+// speaking the word.
+func TestVersionSubcommand(t *testing.T) {
+	var out, errBuf bytes.Buffer
+	if code := runCLI([]string{"version"}, &out, &errBuf); code != exitOK {
+		t.Fatalf("version: exit code = %d, stderr %q", code, errBuf.String())
+	}
+	if got, want := out.String(), versionString()+"\n"; got != want {
+		t.Errorf("version output = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestVersionStringWithCommit(t *testing.T) {
 	oldCommit := commit
 	commit = "c0ffee1"