diff --git a/packages/commands/src/index.ts b/packages/commands/src/index.ts
index c93077e77..74a769dc8 100644
--- a/packages/commands/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/commands/src/index.ts
@@ -1282,6 +1282,53 @@ export namespace CommandRegistry {
     mods.push(key);
     return mods.join(' ');
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Format keystroke aria labels.
+   *
+   * If a list of keystrokes includes puntuation, it will create an
+   * aria label and substitue symbol values to text.
+   *
+   * @param keystroke The keystrokes to format
+   * @param keyToText - Optional object for converting punctuation.
+   * @returns The keystrokes representation
+   */
+  export function formatKeystrokeAriaLabel(
+    keystroke: readonly string[],
+    keyToText?: { [key: string]: string }
+  ): string {
+    const internalKeyToText = keyToText ?? {
+      ']': 'Closing bracket',
+      '[': 'Opening bracket',
+      ',': 'Comma',
+      '.': 'Full stop',
+      "'": 'Single quote',
+      '-': 'Hyphen-minus'
+    };
+
+    let result = CommandRegistry.formatKeystroke(keystroke);
+
+    let punctuationRegex = /\p{P}/u;
+    let punctuations = result?.match(punctuationRegex);
+    if (!punctuations) {
+      return result;
+    }
+    for (const punctuation of punctuations) {
+      if (
+        result != null &&
+        Object.keys(internalKeyToText).includes(punctuation)
+      ) {
+        const individualKeys = result.split('+');
+        let index = individualKeys.indexOf(punctuation);
+        if (index != -1) {
+          individualKeys[index] = internalKeyToText[punctuation];
+        }
+        const textShortcut = individualKeys.join('+');
+        return textShortcut;
+      }
+    }
+    return result;
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/widgets/src/commandpalette.ts b/packages/widgets/src/commandpalette.ts
index 4e2d7ef73..fbcc7e80f 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/src/commandpalette.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/src/commandpalette.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export class CommandPalette extends Widget {
     super({ node: Private.createNode() });
     this.addClass('lm-CommandPalette');
     this.setFlag(Widget.Flag.DisallowLayout);
+    this.keyToText = options.renderer?.keyToText;
     this.commands = options.commands;
     this.renderer = options.renderer || CommandPalette.defaultRenderer;
     this.commands.commandChanged.connect(this._onGenericChange, this);
@@ -63,6 +64,10 @@ export class CommandPalette extends Widget {
    * The renderer used by the command palette.
    */
   readonly renderer: CommandPalette.IRenderer;
+  /**
+   * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+   */
+  readonly keyToText: CommandPalette.IRenderer['keyToText'];
 
   /**
    * The command palette search node.
@@ -750,12 +755,21 @@ export namespace CommandPalette {
      * @returns A virtual element representing the message.
      */
     renderEmptyMessage(data: IEmptyMessageRenderData): VirtualElement;
+
+    /**
+     * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+     */
+    keyToText?: { [key: string]: string };
   }
 
   /**
    * The default implementation of `IRenderer`.
    */
   export class Renderer implements IRenderer {
+    /**
+     * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+     */
+    keyToText?: { [key: string]: string };
     /**
      * Render the virtual element for a command palette header.
      *
@@ -877,7 +891,14 @@ export namespace CommandPalette {
      */
     renderItemShortcut(data: IItemRenderData): VirtualElement {
       let content = this.formatItemShortcut(data);
-      return h.div({ className: 'lm-CommandPalette-itemShortcut' }, content);
+      let ariaContent = this.formatItemAria(data);
+      return h.div(
+        {
+          className: 'lm-CommandPalette-itemShortcut',
+          'aria-label': `${ariaContent}`
+        },
+        content
+      );
     }
 
     /**
@@ -973,6 +994,18 @@ export namespace CommandPalette {
       return kb ? CommandRegistry.formatKeystroke(kb.keys) : null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param data - The data to use for the aria label content.
+     *
+     * @returns The aria label content to add to the shortcut node.
+     */
+    formatItemAria(data: IItemRenderData): h.Child {
+      let kbText = data.item.keyBinding;
+      return kbText
+        ? CommandRegistry.formatKeystrokeAriaLabel(kbText.keys, this.keyToText)
+        : null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Create the render content for the item label node.
      *
diff --git a/packages/widgets/src/menu.ts b/packages/widgets/src/menu.ts
index 054162675..8927c69ab 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/src/menu.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/src/menu.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export class Menu extends Widget {
     super({ node: Private.createNode() });
     this.addClass('lm-Menu');
     this.setFlag(Widget.Flag.DisallowLayout);
+    this.keyToText = options.renderer?.keyToText;
     this.commands = options.commands;
     this.renderer = options.renderer || Menu.defaultRenderer;
   }
@@ -64,6 +65,10 @@ export class Menu extends Widget {
     this._items.length = 0;
     super.dispose();
   }
+  /**
+   * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+   */
+  readonly keyToText: Menu.IRenderer['keyToText'];
 
   /**
    * A signal emitted just before the menu is closed.
@@ -1151,6 +1156,10 @@ export namespace Menu {
      * @returns A virtual element representing the item.
      */
     renderItem(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement;
+    /**
+     * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+     */
+    keyToText?: { [key: string]: string };
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1160,6 +1169,10 @@ export namespace Menu {
    * Subclasses are free to reimplement rendering methods as needed.
    */
   export class Renderer implements IRenderer {
+    /**
+     * The optional object used for translation of aria label punctuation.
+     */
+    keyToText?: { [key: string]: string };
     /**
      * Render the virtual element for a menu item.
      *
@@ -1221,7 +1234,14 @@ export namespace Menu {
      */
     renderShortcut(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement {
       let content = this.formatShortcut(data);
-      return h.div({ className: 'lm-Menu-itemShortcut' }, content);
+      let ariaContent = this.formatShortcutText(data);
+      return h.div(
+        {
+          className: 'lm-Menu-itemShortcut',
+          'aria-label': `${ariaContent}`
+        },
+        content
+      );
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1371,6 +1391,19 @@ export namespace Menu {
       let kb = data.item.keyBinding;
       return kb ? CommandRegistry.formatKeystroke(kb.keys) : null;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @param data - The data to use for the aria label content.
+     *
+     * @returns The aria label content to add to the shortcut node.
+     */
+    formatShortcutText(data: IRenderData): h.Child {
+      let kbText = data.item.keyBinding;
+
+      return kbText
+        ? CommandRegistry.formatKeystrokeAriaLabel(kbText.keys, this.keyToText)
+        : null;
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/widgets/tests/src/commandpalette.spec.ts b/packages/widgets/tests/src/commandpalette.spec.ts
index c57f8205e..97d4a2adb 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/tests/src/commandpalette.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/tests/src/commandpalette.spec.ts
@@ -552,6 +552,20 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
           keys: ['Ctrl A'],
           selector: 'body'
         });
+        commands.addCommand('test-aria', {
+          label: 'Test Aria',
+          caption: 'A simple aria-label test',
+          className: 'testAriaClass',
+          isEnabled: () => enabledFlag,
+          isToggled: () => toggledFlag,
+          execute: () => {}
+        });
+        commands.addKeyBinding({
+          command: 'test-aria',
+          keys: ['Ctrl ,'],
+          selector: 'body'
+        });
+
         item = palette.addItem({
           command: 'test',
           category: 'Test Category'
@@ -827,6 +841,39 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
           expect(child).to.equal('A simple test command');
         });
       });
+
+      describe('#formatItemShortcut()', () => {
+        it('should format the item shortcut text', () => {
+          let child = renderer.formatItemShortcut({
+            item,
+            indices: null,
+            active: false
+          });
+          if (Platform.IS_MAC) {
+            expect(child).to.equal('\u2303 A');
+          } else {
+            expect(child).to.equal('Ctrl+A');
+          }
+        });
+      });
+      describe('#formatItemAria', () => {
+        it('should format the item aria-label', () => {
+          let item = palette.addItem({
+            command: 'test-aria',
+            category: 'Test Category'
+          });
+          let child = renderer.formatItemAria({
+            item,
+            indices: null,
+            active: false
+          });
+          if (Platform.IS_MAC) {
+            expect(child).to.equal('\u2303 ,');
+          } else {
+            expect(child).to.equal('Ctrl+Comma');
+          }
+        });
+      });
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/widgets/tests/src/menu.spec.ts b/packages/widgets/tests/src/menu.spec.ts
index a4f1c1983..dfaff03af 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/tests/src/menu.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/tests/src/menu.spec.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
       className: 'testClass',
       mnemonic: 0
     });
+    commands.addCommand('test-aria', {
+      execute: (args: JSONObject) => {
+        executed = 'test-aria';
+      },
+      label: 'Test Aria Label',
+      icon: iconRenderer,
+      iconClass,
+      caption: 'Test Caption',
+      className: 'testClass',
+      mnemonic: 0
+    });
     commands.addCommand('test-toggled', {
       execute: (args: JSONObject) => {
         executed = 'test-toggled';
@@ -127,6 +138,11 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
       selector: 'body',
       command: 'test'
     });
+    commands.addKeyBinding({
+      keys: ['Ctrl ,'],
+      selector: 'body',
+      command: 'test-aria'
+    });
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -1591,6 +1607,21 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
             expect(child).to.equal('Ctrl+T');
           }
         });
+        describe('#formatShortcutText()', () => {
+          it('should format the item aria-label', () => {
+            let item = menu.addItem({ command: 'test-aria' });
+            let child = renderer.formatShortcutText({
+              item,
+              active: false,
+              collapsed: false
+            });
+            if (Platform.IS_MAC) {
+              expect(child).to.equal('\u2303 ,');
+            } else {
+              expect(child).to.equal('Ctrl+Comma');
+            }
+          });
+        });
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/review/api/commands.api.md b/review/api/commands.api.md
index 81ed057ee..6f10048b2 100644
--- a/review/api/commands.api.md
+++ b/review/api/commands.api.md
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ export namespace CommandRegistry {
         args: ReadonlyJSONObject | null;
     };
     export function formatKeystroke(keystroke: string | readonly string[]): string;
+    export function formatKeystrokeAriaLabel(keystroke: readonly string[], keyToText?: {
+        [key: string]: string;
+    }): string;
     export interface ICommandChangedArgs {
         readonly id: string | undefined;
         readonly type: 'added' | 'removed' | 'changed' | 'many-changed';
diff --git a/review/api/widgets.api.md b/review/api/widgets.api.md
index 7462b947b..d0e1af01d 100644
--- a/review/api/widgets.api.md
+++ b/review/api/widgets.api.md
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ export class CommandPalette extends Widget {
     handleEvent(event: Event): void;
     get inputNode(): HTMLInputElement;
     get items(): ReadonlyArray<CommandPalette.IItem>;
+    readonly keyToText: CommandPalette.IRenderer['keyToText'];
     protected onActivateRequest(msg: Message): void;
     protected onAfterDetach(msg: Message): void;
     protected onAfterShow(msg: Message): void;
@@ -235,6 +236,9 @@ export namespace CommandPalette {
         renderer?: IRenderer;
     }
     export interface IRenderer {
+        keyToText?: {
+            [key: string]: string;
+        };
         renderEmptyMessage(data: IEmptyMessageRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderHeader(data: IHeaderRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderItem(data: IItemRenderData): VirtualElement;
@@ -245,9 +249,14 @@ export namespace CommandPalette {
         createItemDataset(data: IItemRenderData): ElementDataset;
         formatEmptyMessage(data: IEmptyMessageRenderData): h.Child;
         formatHeader(data: IHeaderRenderData): h.Child;
+        // (undocumented)
+        formatItemAria(data: IItemRenderData): h.Child;
         formatItemCaption(data: IItemRenderData): h.Child;
         formatItemLabel(data: IItemRenderData): h.Child;
         formatItemShortcut(data: IItemRenderData): h.Child;
+        keyToText?: {
+            [key: string]: string;
+        };
         renderEmptyMessage(data: IEmptyMessageRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderHeader(data: IHeaderRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderItem(data: IItemRenderData): VirtualElement;
@@ -695,6 +704,7 @@ export class Menu extends Widget {
     handleEvent(event: Event): void;
     insertItem(index: number, options: Menu.IItemOptions): Menu.IItem;
     get items(): ReadonlyArray<Menu.IItem>;
+    readonly keyToText: Menu.IRenderer['keyToText'];
     get leafMenu(): Menu;
     get menuRequested(): ISignal<this, 'next' | 'previous'>;
     protected onActivateRequest(msg: Message): void;
@@ -753,6 +763,9 @@ export namespace Menu {
         readonly onfocus?: () => void;
     }
     export interface IRenderer {
+        keyToText?: {
+            [key: string]: string;
+        };
         renderItem(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement;
     }
     export type ItemType = 'command' | 'submenu' | 'separator';
@@ -763,6 +776,11 @@ export namespace Menu {
         createItemDataset(data: IRenderData): ElementDataset;
         formatLabel(data: IRenderData): h.Child;
         formatShortcut(data: IRenderData): h.Child;
+        // (undocumented)
+        formatShortcutText(data: IRenderData): h.Child;
+        keyToText?: {
+            [key: string]: string;
+        };
         renderIcon(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderItem(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement;
         renderLabel(data: IRenderData): VirtualElement;