diff --git a/frontend/chat.html b/frontend/chat.html
index bfee02b..e917187 100644
--- a/frontend/chat.html
+++ b/frontend/chat.html
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@
     <!-- Chat -->
     <div class="chat-container">
         <div class="chat-messages" id="chat-messages">
-            <!-- Welcome section injected by JS -->
+            <!-- Welcome section -->
             <div class="welcome-section" id="welcome-section">
                 <div class="welcome-row">
                     <div class="avatar-container" id="avatar-container">
                         <div class="avatar-ring"></div>
-                        <div class="avatar-placeholder">🎓</div>
+                        <img class="avatar-img" id="avatar-img" src="" alt="Tutor avatar">
                         <div class="avatar-pulse"></div>
                     </div>
                     <div class="welcome-text">
@@ -42,10 +42,31 @@
         </div>
 
         <div class="chat-input-bar">
-            <button class="voice-btn" id="voice-btn" title="Voice input">🎤</button>
-            <input type="text" id="chat-input" placeholder="Type your message or click 🎤 to speak..."
-                autocomplete="off">
+            <!-- Voice toggle -->
+            <label class="voice-toggle" title="Toggle voice mode">
+                <input type="checkbox" id="voice-toggle-input">
+                <span class="voice-toggle-slider"></span>
+                <svg class="voice-toggle-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
+                    <path d="M12 1a3 3 0 0 0-3 3v8a3 3 0 0 0 6 0V4a3 3 0 0 0-3-3z" />
+                    <path d="M19 10v2a7 7 0 0 1-14 0v-2" />
+                    <line x1="12" y1="19" x2="12" y2="23" />
+                    <line x1="8" y1="23" x2="16" y2="23" />
+                </svg>
+            </label>
+
+            <input type="text" id="chat-input" placeholder="Type your message..." autocomplete="off">
             <button class="btn btn-primary" id="send-btn">Send</button>
+
+            <!-- Mic button (visible only when voice mode ON) -->
+            <button class="mic-btn hidden" id="mic-btn" title="Hold to speak">
+                <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round"
+                    stroke-linejoin="round">
+                    <path d="M12 1a3 3 0 0 0-3 3v8a3 3 0 0 0 6 0V4a3 3 0 0 0-3-3z" />
+                    <path d="M19 10v2a7 7 0 0 1-14 0v-2" />
+                    <line x1="12" y1="19" x2="12" y2="23" />
+                    <line x1="8" y1="23" x2="16" y2="23" />
+                </svg>
+            </button>
         </div>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/css/style.css b/frontend/css/style.css
index eacda03..1d79a23 100644
--- a/frontend/css/style.css
+++ b/frontend/css/style.css
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ textarea {
 
 .chat-input-bar {
   display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
   gap: 10px;
   padding: 16px 24px;
   background: var(--glass-bg);
@@ -530,29 +531,99 @@ textarea {
   flex: 1;
 }
 
-.voice-btn {
-  width: 46px;
-  height: 46px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
+/* ── Voice Toggle Switch ──────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.voice-toggle {
+  position: relative;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.voice-toggle input {
+  position: absolute;
+  opacity: 0;
+  width: 0;
+  height: 0;
+}
+
+.voice-toggle-slider {
+  width: 40px;
+  height: 22px;
   background: var(--bg-input);
   border: 1px solid var(--glass-border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-full);
+  transition: all var(--transition);
+  position: relative;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.voice-toggle-slider::before {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2px;
+  left: 2px;
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--text-muted);
+  transition: all var(--transition);
+}
+
+.voice-toggle input:checked+.voice-toggle-slider {
+  background: var(--gradient-btn);
+  border-color: transparent;
+  box-shadow: 0 0 12px var(--accent-glow);
+}
+
+.voice-toggle input:checked+.voice-toggle-slider::before {
+  transform: translateX(18px);
+  background: #fff;
+}
+
+.voice-toggle-icon {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  margin-left: 4px;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  transition: color var(--transition);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.voice-toggle input:checked~.voice-toggle-icon {
+  color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+/* ── Mic Button (modern, subtle) ─────────────────────────────────── */
+.mic-btn {
+  width: 42px;
+  height: 42px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: transparent;
+  border: 1px solid var(--glass-border);
   color: var(--text-secondary);
-  font-size: 1.2rem;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: all var(--transition);
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
-  position: relative;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  padding: 0;
 }
 
-.voice-btn:hover {
+.mic-btn svg {
+  width: 18px;
+  height: 18px;
+}
+
+.mic-btn:hover {
   background: var(--bg-hover);
-  color: var(--text-primary);
+  color: var(--accent);
+  border-color: var(--border-focus);
   transform: scale(1.05);
 }
 
-.voice-btn.recording {
+.mic-btn.recording {
   background: linear-gradient(135deg, #fb7185, #e11d48);
   color: #fff;
   border-color: transparent;
@@ -560,6 +631,15 @@ textarea {
   animation: recordPulse 1.8s infinite;
 }
 
+.mic-btn.hidden {
+  display: none;
+}
+
+/* ── Utility ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.hidden {
+  display: none !important;
+}
+
 /* ── Tables ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .table-wrapper {
   overflow-x: auto;
@@ -783,15 +863,14 @@ tr:hover td {
   animation: avatarSpin 6s linear infinite;
 }
 
-.avatar-placeholder {
+.avatar-img {
   position: absolute;
   inset: 4px;
+  width: calc(100% - 8px);
+  height: calc(100% - 8px);
   border-radius: 50%;
+  object-fit: cover;
   background: var(--glass-bg);
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  font-size: 1.8rem;
   animation: avatarBreathe 3s ease-in-out infinite;
   box-shadow: inset 0 0 20px rgba(124, 108, 240, 0.08);
 }
@@ -1109,4 +1188,15 @@ tr:hover td {
 ::selection {
   background: rgba(124, 108, 240, 0.35);
   color: #fff;
+}
+
+/* ── Version label ───────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.version-label {
+  display: block;
+  text-align: center;
+  margin-top: 16px;
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  opacity: 0.5;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 08bd679..93b12c2 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <!DOCTYPE html>
 <html lang="en">
+
 <head>
   <meta charset="UTF-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@
   <title>FluentGerman.ai — Login</title>
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css">
 </head>
+
 <body>
   <div class="page-center">
     <div class="card card-sm">
@@ -28,9 +30,11 @@
         <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary btn-block">Sign In</button>
       </form>
     </div>
+    <span class="version-label">v0.1</span>
   </div>
 
   <script src="/js/api.js"></script>
   <script src="/js/auth.js"></script>
 </body>
-</html>
+
+</html>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/js/chat.js b/frontend/js/chat.js
index 43eede2..2bcf6c1 100644
--- a/frontend/js/chat.js
+++ b/frontend/js/chat.js
@@ -2,21 +2,15 @@
 
 // Configure marked for safe rendering
 marked.setOptions({
-    breaks: true,       // Convert \n to <br>
-    gfm: true,          // GitHub-flavored markdown
+    breaks: true,
+    gfm: true,
 });
 
-/**
- * Render markdown text to sanitized HTML.
- */
 function renderMarkdown(text) {
     const raw = marked.parse(text);
     return DOMPurify.sanitize(raw);
 }
 
-/**
- * Format a date as a friendly relative time string.
- */
 function relativeTime(dateStr) {
     if (!dateStr) return null;
     const date = new Date(dateStr);
@@ -34,6 +28,9 @@ function relativeTime(dateStr) {
     return date.toLocaleDateString('en-GB', { day: 'numeric', month: 'short', year: 'numeric' });
 }
 
+// Avatar — DiceBear "avataaars" style for friendly illustrated headshots
+const AVATAR_SEEDS = ['Felix', 'Lena', 'Hans', 'Sophie', 'Klaus', 'Marta', 'Otto', 'Emma'];
+
 document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
     if (!requireAuth()) return;
 
@@ -41,27 +38,31 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
     const displayName = user?.username || 'User';
     document.getElementById('user-name').textContent = displayName;
 
+    // Random avatar from DiceBear
+    const avatarImg = document.getElementById('avatar-img');
+    const seed = AVATAR_SEEDS[Math.floor(Math.random() * AVATAR_SEEDS.length)];
+    avatarImg.src = `https://api.dicebear.com/9.x/avataaars/svg?seed=${seed}&backgroundColor=b6e3f4,c0aede,d1d4f9`;
+
     const messagesEl = document.getElementById('chat-messages');
     const inputEl = document.getElementById('chat-input');
     const sendBtn = document.getElementById('send-btn');
-    const voiceBtn = document.getElementById('voice-btn');
+    const micBtn = document.getElementById('mic-btn');
+    const voiceToggle = document.getElementById('voice-toggle-input');
 
     let history = [];
+    let voiceModeOn = false;
 
     // ── Personalised welcome ──────────────────────────────────────────
     const greetingEl = document.getElementById('welcome-greeting');
     const subtitleEl = document.getElementById('welcome-subtitle');
     const metaEl = document.getElementById('welcome-meta');
 
-    // Immediately show the username we already have from localStorage
     greetingEl.textContent = `Hallo, ${displayName}! 👋`;
 
-    // Fetch dashboard info for latest instruction data
     try {
         const resp = await api('/chat/dashboard');
         if (resp?.ok) {
             const data = await resp.json();
-            // Use server username (authoritative)
             greetingEl.textContent = `Hallo, ${data.username}! 👋`;
 
             if (data.latest_instruction_at) {
@@ -74,20 +75,33 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
             }
         }
     } catch (e) {
-        console.warn('[Chat] Could not fetch dashboard info:', e);
+        console.warn('[Chat] Could not fetch dashboard:', e);
     }
 
     // ── Voice ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     const voice = new VoiceManager();
     await voice.init();
 
-    // Disable mic button if no STT method is available
-    if (voice.isDisabled) {
-        voiceBtn.disabled = true;
-        voiceBtn.title = 'Voice input requires Chrome or Edge (with HTTPS)';
-        voiceBtn.style.opacity = '0.35';
-        voiceBtn.style.cursor = 'not-allowed';
-    }
+    // Voice toggle handler
+    voiceToggle.addEventListener('change', () => {
+        voiceModeOn = voiceToggle.checked;
+
+        if (voiceModeOn) {
+            if (voice.isDisabled) {
+                showToast('Voice requires Chrome or Edge (HTTPS).', 'error');
+                voiceToggle.checked = false;
+                voiceModeOn = false;
+                return;
+            }
+            micBtn.classList.remove('hidden');
+            inputEl.placeholder = 'Voice mode ON — click the mic to speak...';
+        } else {
+            micBtn.classList.add('hidden');
+            inputEl.placeholder = 'Type your message...';
+            // Stop any active recording
+            if (voice.isRecording) voice.stopRecording();
+        }
+    });
 
     voice.onResult = (text) => {
         inputEl.value = text;
@@ -96,11 +110,10 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
     };
 
     voice.onStateChange = (recording) => {
-        voiceBtn.classList.toggle('recording', recording);
-        voiceBtn.textContent = recording ? '⏹' : '🎤';
+        micBtn.classList.toggle('recording', recording);
     };
 
-    voiceBtn.addEventListener('click', () => voice.toggleRecording());
+    micBtn.addEventListener('click', () => voice.toggleRecording());
 
     // ── Chat ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     function appendMessage(role, content) {
@@ -122,7 +135,6 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
         const text = inputEl.value.trim();
         if (!text) return;
 
-        // Capture whether this was a voice input BEFORE clearing
         const wasVoice = voice.lastInputWasVoice;
         voice.lastInputWasVoice = false;
 
@@ -132,7 +144,6 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
         appendMessage('user', text);
         history.push({ role: 'user', content: text });
 
-        // Create assistant message placeholder
         const assistantEl = appendMessage('assistant', '');
         let fullResponse = '';
 
@@ -166,7 +177,6 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
                             const parsed = JSON.parse(data);
                             if (parsed.token) {
                                 fullResponse += parsed.token;
-                                // Live-render markdown as tokens stream in
                                 assistantEl.innerHTML = renderMarkdown(fullResponse);
                                 messagesEl.scrollTop = messagesEl.scrollHeight;
                             }
@@ -183,8 +193,8 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
             if (fullResponse) {
                 history.push({ role: 'assistant', content: fullResponse });
 
-                // Auto-speak response if the user used voice input
-                if (wasVoice) {
+                // Auto-speak if voice mode is ON (regardless of input method)
+                if (voiceModeOn) {
                     await voice.speak(fullResponse);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/frontend/js/voice.js b/frontend/js/voice.js
index 48df44a..12ca8f3 100644
--- a/frontend/js/voice.js
+++ b/frontend/js/voice.js
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-/* FluentGerman.ai — Voice module (Web Speech API + API mode) */
+/* FluentGerman.ai — Voice module (API-only TTS, browser + API STT) */
 
 class VoiceManager {
     constructor() {
-        this.mode = 'browser'; // will be set from server config
+        this.mode = 'browser';
         this.recognition = null;
-        this.synthesis = window.speechSynthesis;
         this.isRecording = false;
-        this.isDisabled = false; // true when no STT method is available
+        this.isDisabled = false;
         this.lastInputWasVoice = false;
         this.mediaRecorder = null;
         this.audioChunks = [];
@@ -17,10 +16,8 @@ class VoiceManager {
     }
 
     async init() {
-        // Check browser STT support
         this._initBrowserSTT();
 
-        // Fetch voice mode from server
         try {
             const response = await api('/voice/config');
             if (response?.ok) {
@@ -34,24 +31,17 @@ class VoiceManager {
             this.mode = 'browser';
         }
 
-        // Determine the best available mode
+        // Determine best STT method
         if (this.mode === 'browser' && !this.browserSTTSupported) {
             if (this.apiAvailable) {
-                console.log('[Voice] Browser STT not supported, falling back to API mode');
                 this.mode = 'api';
-                showToast('Using cloud voice recognition — your browser doesn\'t support built-in speech recognition.', 'info');
             } else {
-                // Neither method works
-                console.warn('[Voice] No STT method available — disabling voice input');
                 this.isDisabled = true;
             }
         } else if (this.mode === 'api' && !this.apiAvailable) {
-            // Server says API but API isn't actually configured
             if (this.browserSTTSupported) {
-                console.log('[Voice] API STT not configured, using browser STT');
                 this.mode = 'browser';
             } else {
-                console.warn('[Voice] No STT method available — disabling voice input');
                 this.isDisabled = true;
             }
         }
@@ -62,7 +52,6 @@ class VoiceManager {
     _initBrowserSTT() {
         const SpeechRecognition = window.SpeechRecognition || window.webkitSpeechRecognition;
         if (!SpeechRecognition) {
-            console.warn('[Voice] SpeechRecognition API not available in this browser');
             this.browserSTTSupported = false;
             return;
         }
@@ -75,35 +64,32 @@ class VoiceManager {
 
         this.recognition.onresult = (event) => {
             const text = event.results[0][0].transcript;
-            console.log('[Voice] Browser STT result:', text);
+            console.log('[Voice] STT result:', text);
             this.lastInputWasVoice = true;
             if (this.onResult) this.onResult(text);
         };
 
         this.recognition.onend = () => {
-            console.log('[Voice] Browser STT ended');
             this.isRecording = false;
             if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
         };
 
         this.recognition.onerror = (event) => {
-            console.error('[Voice] Browser STT error:', event.error);
+            console.error('[Voice] STT error:', event.error);
             this.isRecording = false;
             if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
 
             if (event.error === 'not-allowed') {
-                showToast('Microphone access denied. Please allow microphone in browser settings.', 'error');
+                showToast('Microphone access denied. Allow it in browser settings.', 'error');
             } else if (event.error === 'no-speech') {
                 showToast('No speech detected. Try again.', 'error');
             }
         };
-
-        console.log('[Voice] Browser STT initialized');
     }
 
     async startRecording() {
         if (this.isDisabled) {
-            showToast('Voice input requires Chrome or Edge (with HTTPS). Firefox is not supported.', 'error');
+            showToast('Voice requires Chrome or Edge (HTTPS).', 'error');
             return;
         }
 
@@ -112,79 +98,66 @@ class VoiceManager {
         if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(true);
 
         if (this.mode === 'api') {
-            // API mode — record audio via MediaRecorder, send to Whisper
             try {
                 const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ audio: true });
                 this.audioChunks = [];
                 this.mediaRecorder = new MediaRecorder(stream);
 
-                this.mediaRecorder.ondataavailable = (event) => {
-                    this.audioChunks.push(event.data);
-                };
+                this.mediaRecorder.ondataavailable = (e) => this.audioChunks.push(e.data);
 
                 this.mediaRecorder.onstop = async () => {
-                    stream.getTracks().forEach(track => track.stop());
+                    stream.getTracks().forEach(t => t.stop());
                     const blob = new Blob(this.audioChunks, { type: 'audio/webm' });
                     await this._transcribeAPI(blob);
                 };
 
                 this.mediaRecorder.start();
-                console.log('[Voice] API recording started');
             } catch (e) {
-                console.error('[Voice] Microphone access error:', e);
                 showToast('Microphone access denied', 'error');
                 this.isRecording = false;
                 if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
             }
         } else {
-            // Browser mode — use Web Speech API
             if (this.recognition) {
                 try {
                     this.recognition.start();
-                    console.log('[Voice] Browser STT started');
                 } catch (e) {
-                    console.error('[Voice] Failed to start recognition:', e);
                     this.isRecording = false;
                     if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
-                    showToast('Voice recognition failed to start. Try again.', 'error');
+                    showToast('Voice recognition failed. Try again.', 'error');
                 }
-            } else {
-                console.warn('[Voice] No speech recognition available');
-                this.isRecording = false;
-                if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
-                showToast('Voice input requires Chrome or Edge (with HTTPS).', 'error');
             }
         }
     }
 
     stopRecording() {
-        console.log('[Voice] Stopping recording...');
         if (this.mode === 'api') {
-            if (this.mediaRecorder && this.mediaRecorder.state === 'recording') {
+            if (this.mediaRecorder?.state === 'recording') {
                 this.mediaRecorder.stop();
             } else {
                 this.isRecording = false;
                 if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
             }
         } else {
-            if (this.recognition) {
-                try {
-                    this.recognition.stop();
-                } catch (e) {
-                    // Already stopped
-                }
-            }
+            try { this.recognition?.stop(); } catch (e) { /* already stopped */ }
             this.isRecording = false;
             if (this.onStateChange) this.onStateChange(false);
         }
     }
 
+    toggleRecording() {
+        if (this.isDisabled) {
+            showToast('Voice requires Chrome or Edge (HTTPS).', 'error');
+            return;
+        }
+        this.isRecording ? this.stopRecording() : this.startRecording();
+    }
+
     async _transcribeAPI(blob) {
         try {
             const formData = new FormData();
             formData.append('audio', blob, 'recording.webm');
 
-            console.log('[Voice] Sending audio to API for transcription...');
             const response = await api('/voice/transcribe', {
                 method: 'POST',
                 body: formData,
@@ -192,14 +165,12 @@ class VoiceManager {
 
             if (response?.ok) {
                 const data = await response.json();
-                console.log('[Voice] API transcription result:', data.text);
                 this.lastInputWasVoice = true;
                 if (this.onResult) this.onResult(data.text);
             } else {
-                showToast('Transcription failed. Please try again.', 'error');
+                showToast('Transcription failed.', 'error');
             }
         } catch (e) {
-            console.error('[Voice] API transcription error:', e);
             showToast('Transcription error', 'error');
         } finally {
             this.isRecording = false;
@@ -207,33 +178,20 @@ class VoiceManager {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Speak text via API TTS only. No browser fallback.
+     * Strips markdown formatting before sending.
+     */
     async speak(text) {
-        if (this.mode === 'api' && this.apiAvailable) {
-            return this._speakAPI(text);
-        } else {
-            return this._speakBrowser(text);
+        if (!this.apiAvailable) {
+            console.log('[Voice] API TTS not available, skipping speech');
+            return;
         }
-    }
 
-    _speakBrowser(text) {
-        return new Promise((resolve) => {
-            // Cancel any ongoing speech
-            this.synthesis.cancel();
-            const utterance = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(text);
-            utterance.lang = 'de-DE';
-            utterance.rate = 0.95;
-            utterance.onend = resolve;
-            utterance.onerror = () => {
-                console.warn('[Voice] Browser TTS error');
-                resolve();
-            };
-            this.synthesis.speak(utterance);
-        });
-    }
+        const clean = VoiceManager.stripMarkdown(text);
 
-    async _speakAPI(text) {
         try {
-            const response = await api(`/voice/synthesize?text=${encodeURIComponent(text)}`, {
+            const response = await api(`/voice/synthesize?text=${encodeURIComponent(clean)}`, {
                 method: 'POST',
             });
 
@@ -242,26 +200,33 @@ class VoiceManager {
                 const audioUrl = URL.createObjectURL(audioBlob);
                 const audio = new Audio(audioUrl);
                 await audio.play();
-                return new Promise(resolve => {
-                    audio.onended = resolve;
-                });
+                return new Promise(resolve => { audio.onended = resolve; });
             }
         } catch (e) {
-            console.warn('[Voice] API TTS failed, falling back to browser');
+            console.warn('[Voice] API TTS failed:', e);
         }
-        // Fallback to browser TTS
-        return this._speakBrowser(text);
     }
 
-    toggleRecording() {
-        if (this.isDisabled) {
-            showToast('Voice input requires Chrome or Edge (with HTTPS). Firefox is not supported.', 'error');
-            return;
-        }
-        if (this.isRecording) {
-            this.stopRecording();
-        } else {
-            this.startRecording();
-        }
+    /**
+     * Strip markdown formatting from text so TTS reads naturally.
+     */
+    static stripMarkdown(text) {
+        return text
+            .replace(/```[\s\S]*?```/g, '')        // code blocks
+            .replace(/`([^`]+)`/g, '$1')            // inline code
+            .replace(/#{1,6}\s+/g, '')              // headings
+            .replace(/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/g, '$1')      // bold
+            .replace(/\*([^*]+)\*/g, '$1')          // italic
+            .replace(/__([^_]+)__/g, '$1')          // bold alt
+            .replace(/_([^_]+)_/g, '$1')            // italic alt
+            .replace(/~~([^~]+)~~/g, '$1')          // strikethrough
+            .replace(/^\s*[-*+]\s+/gm, '')          // unordered lists
+            .replace(/^\s*\d+\.\s+/gm, '')          // ordered lists
+            .replace(/\[([^\]]+)\]\([^)]+\)/g, '$1')// links
+            .replace(/!\[([^\]]*)\]\([^)]+\)/g, '') // images
+            .replace(/>\s+/g, '')                   // blockquotes
+            .replace(/\n{2,}/g, '. ')               // paragraph breaks → pause
+            .replace(/\n/g, ' ')                    // newlines → space
+            .trim();
     }
 }