A study explored the universality of widely accepted descriptors of the ideal speaking voice in cross-gender and cross-cultural perspective. To construct and contrast the ideal voice types, university students from Mexico and Arizona described the ideal voice type under consideration and completed a semantic differential indicating the collective perception of the ideal voice pitch, rate, volume, and clarity of diction. Intrasocietal findings regarding the ideal, ideal male, and ideal female voice types in Mexico revealed a close correlation on all four dimensions of pitch, volume, rate, and diction. Intrasocietal findings in the United States revealed that while neither the male nor the female voice conformed completely to the ideal, the ideal male voice conformed more closely to the cultural ideal. Intersocietal comparison revealed that the ideal speaker's voice in Mexico and the United States shared the qualities of clear enunciation and cheerfulness, while being well-modulated and free of regional accents. The ideal male vocal delivery in both cultures was somewhat slow and low in pitch. However, the ideal Mexican male voice used greater volume and more care with diction than the ideal United States male voice. The ideal female voice types in Mexico and the United States were similarly described as soft in volume, medium to somewhat slow in rate, and careful in enunciation. However, the ideal Mexican female voice was additionally expected to be delicate and sensual. (HTH)