diff --git a/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.js b/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.js
index 4bbe21fc..bc6e6118 100755
--- a/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.js
+++ b/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export const createKeyboardActions = (mapProvider, announce, {
       const place = await reverseGeocode(mapProvider.getZoom(), coord)
       const area = mapProvider.getAreaDimensions?.()
       const message = area ? `${place}. Covering ${area}.` : `${place}.`
-      announce(message, 'core')
+      announce(message, 'action')
     },
 
     highlightNextLabel: (e) => {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export const createKeyboardActions = (mapProvider, announce, {
         return
       }
       const label = mapProvider.highlightNextLabel(e.key)
-      announce(label, 'core')
+      announce(label, 'action')
     },
 
     highlightLabelAtCenter: () => {
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export const createKeyboardActions = (mapProvider, announce, {
         return
       }
       const label = mapProvider.highlightLabelAtCenter()
-      announce(label, 'core')
+      announce(label, 'action')
     },
 
     clearSelection: () => mapProvider?.clearHighlightedLabel?.()
diff --git a/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.test.js b/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.test.js
index b2f84bbb..5ae89c5e 100644
--- a/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.test.js
+++ b/src/App/controls/keyboardActions.test.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ describe('getInfo', () => {
     const { actions, announce } = makeActions()
     await actions.getInfo()
     expect(reverseGeocode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ZOOM_LEVEL, { lng: 1, lat: 2 })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('London. Covering 5km².', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('London. Covering 5km².', 'action')
   })
 
   test('announces result without area when getAreaDimensions is absent', async () => {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ describe('getInfo', () => {
     const { actions, mapProvider, announce } = makeActions()
     delete mapProvider.getAreaDimensions
     await actions.getInfo()
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Paris.', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Paris.', 'action')
   })
 })
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ describe('label actions', () => {
     const { actions, mapProvider, announce } = makeActions()
     mapProvider.highlightNextLabel.mockReturnValue('Label A')
     actions.highlightNextLabel({ key: 'A' })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Label A', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Label A', 'action')
   })
 
   test('highlightNextLabel is no-op when readMapText is false', () => {
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ describe('label actions', () => {
     const { actions, mapProvider, announce } = makeActions()
     mapProvider.highlightLabelAtCenter.mockReturnValue('Center Label')
     actions.highlightLabelAtCenter()
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Center Label', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Center Label', 'action')
   })
 
   test('highlightLabelAtCenter is no-op when readMapText is false', () => {
diff --git a/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.js b/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.js
index 16224a06..8015ea50 100755
--- a/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.js
+++ b/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export function useMapAnnouncements () {
 
       const message = resolveMessage(previous, current, mapProvider)
       if (message) {
-        announce(message, 'core')
+        announce(message, 'action')
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.test.js b/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.test.js
index f5450c54..a6e3c60d 100644
--- a/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.test.js
+++ b/src/App/hooks/useMapAnnouncements.test.js
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ describe('useMapAnnouncements', () => {
       direction: 'north',
       areaDimensions: { width: 100, height: 100 }
     })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Moved north', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Moved north', 'action')
   })
 
   test('announces zoomed message when only zoom changes', () => {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ describe('useMapAnnouncements', () => {
       to: 12,
       areaDimensions: { width: 100, height: 100 }
     })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Zoomed in', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Zoomed in', 'action')
   })
 
   test('announces no change message when neither center nor zoom changes', () => {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ describe('useMapAnnouncements', () => {
       center: [0, 0],
       zoom: 10
     })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('No change', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('No change', 'action')
   })
 
   test('announces new area message when both center and zoom change', () => {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ describe('useMapAnnouncements', () => {
       zoom: 12,
       areaDimensions: { width: 100, height: 100 }
     })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('New area', 'core')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('New area', 'action')
   })
 
   test('detects center change correctly for lat or lng', () => {
diff --git a/src/services/announcer.js b/src/services/announcer.js
index 38eacfe7..2a4df660 100755
--- a/src/services/announcer.js
+++ b/src/services/announcer.js
@@ -1,10 +1,33 @@
 // services/announcer.js
 import { debounce } from '../utils/debounce.js'
 
+/**
+ * Live-region announcer for screen readers.
+ *
+ * Priority model — the axis that matters is "did the user ask for this?", not
+ * which part of the code sent it:
+ *
+ *  - 'action'  Direct response to a deliberate user keypress (pan/zoom result,
+ *              Alt+I reverse-geocode, a plugin shortcut result, search results).
+ *              The latest action always wins: rapid actions are debounced down
+ *              to the most recent, and an action is never blocked by an ambient
+ *              message. This is the default.
+ *
+ *  - 'ambient' Passive/system-initiated message the user did not directly ask
+ *              for (e.g. the "Press Shift+? for keyboard controls" hint shown on
+ *              focus). Ambient messages yield: they are skipped while a recent
+ *              action result is holding priority so they can never clobber what
+ *              the user actually requested.
+ */
 export function createAnnouncer (mapStatusRef) {
   const CLEAR_DELAY = 100
   const DEBOUNCE_DELAY = 500
-  let priorityLock = false
+  // How long an action result keeps priority over ambient messages. Covers the
+  // debounce + clear write (600ms) plus a short buffer so a hint firing right
+  // after a user action can't stomp the action's message before it is read.
+  const ACTION_HOLD_DELAY = 1000
+
+  let actionHoldTimer = null
 
   // Core function to write to the live region
   const setLiveRegion = (msg) => {
@@ -22,27 +45,34 @@ export function createAnnouncer (mapStatusRef) {
     }, CLEAR_DELAY)
   }
 
-  // Debounced announcer to group rapid events
+  // Debounced announcer to group rapid action events down to the latest one
   const debouncedAnnounce = debounce(setLiveRegion, DEBOUNCE_DELAY)
 
+  // Hold (or refresh) action priority so ambient messages yield for a window
+  const holdActionPriority = () => {
+    clearTimeout(actionHoldTimer)
+    actionHoldTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      actionHoldTimer = null
+    }, ACTION_HOLD_DELAY)
+  }
+
   // Public announce function
-  const announce = (msg, type = 'core') => {
+  const announce = (msg, kind = 'action') => {
     if (!msg) {
       return
     }
 
-    if (type === 'plugin') {
-      priorityLock = true
+    if (kind === 'ambient') {
+      // Yield to a recent user-action result rather than clobber it
+      if (actionHoldTimer) {
+        return
+      }
       setLiveRegion(msg)
       return
     }
 
-    if (priorityLock) {
-      // skip this one but release lock for next time
-      priorityLock = false
-      return
-    }
-
+    // Action: latest deliberate user action wins and is always read
+    holdActionPriority()
     debouncedAnnounce(msg)
   }
 
diff --git a/src/services/announcer.test.js b/src/services/announcer.test.js
index ee2cd289..391539d3 100755
--- a/src/services/announcer.test.js
+++ b/src/services/announcer.test.js
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ describe('createAnnouncer', () => {
   it('does nothing if msg is falsy', () => {
     announce(null)
     expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
-    announce(undefined, 'core')
+    announce(undefined, 'action')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
+    announce('', 'ambient')
     expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
   })
 
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ describe('createAnnouncer', () => {
   })
 
   it('returns early if mapStatusRef.current becomes null during setTimeout', () => {
-    announce('Test message', 'plugin')
+    announce('Test message', 'ambient')
     expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('') // cleared immediately
 
     mapStatusRef.current = null
@@ -39,51 +41,77 @@ describe('createAnnouncer', () => {
     expect(() => jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)).not.toThrow()
   })
 
-  it('sets textContent for a plugin message immediately', () => {
-    announce('Plugin message', 'plugin')
+  it('sets textContent for an ambient message immediately (after clear)', () => {
+    announce('Hint message', 'ambient')
     expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('') // cleared immediately
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Plugin message')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Hint message')
   })
 
-  it('sets textContent for a core message after debounce + clear', () => {
-    announce('Core message', 'core')
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('') // cleared immediately
+  it('sets textContent for an action message after debounce + clear', () => {
+    announce('Action message', 'action')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
 
-    // advance only CLEAR_DELAY should still be empty due to debounce
+    // advance only CLEAR_DELAY: still empty, debounce has not fired yet
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
     expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
 
-    // advance DEBOUNCE_DELAY to trigger actual announcement
+    // advance DEBOUNCE_DELAY to trigger the actual announcement
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(500)
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Action message')
+  })
+
+  it('defaults to an action message when no kind is given', () => {
+    announce('Default message')
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
+    // action is debounced, so nothing yet
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('')
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(500)
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Core message')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Default message')
   })
 
-  it('respects priority lock when plugin message is sent', () => {
-    // plugin sets lock
-    announce('Plugin message', 'plugin')
+  it('lets an action always announce even after an ambient message (first-time fix)', () => {
+    // ambient hint shown first (e.g. keyboard-controls hint on focus)
+    announce('Keyboard hint', 'ambient')
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Plugin message')
-
-    // core message should be skipped due to lock
-    announce('Core message', 'core')
-    jest.advanceTimersByTime(600) // DEBOUNCE_DELAY + CLEAR_DELAY
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Plugin message')
-
-    // next core message should work
-    announce('Next core message', 'core')
-    jest.advanceTimersByTime(100) // clear first
-    jest.advanceTimersByTime(500) // debounce
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Next core message')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Keyboard hint')
+
+    // user action must not be blocked by the earlier ambient message
+    announce('Reverse geocode result', 'action')
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(600) // debounce + clear
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Reverse geocode result')
   })
 
-  it('plugin messages always set priority lock and show immediately', () => {
-    announce('Plugin 1', 'plugin')
+  it('gives a recent action priority: an ambient message is skipped', () => {
+    announce('Map moved', 'action')
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(600) // debounce + clear
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Map moved')
+
+    // ambient arrives within the action hold window and must be ignored
+    announce('Keyboard hint', 'ambient')
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Plugin 1')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Map moved')
+  })
+
+  it('lets an ambient message through once the action hold window expires', () => {
+    announce('Map moved', 'action')
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(600)
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Map moved')
 
-    announce('Plugin 2', 'plugin')
+    // wait out the full ACTION_HOLD_DELAY (1000ms from the action call)
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(400)
+
+    announce('Keyboard hint', 'ambient')
     jest.advanceTimersByTime(100)
-    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Plugin 2')
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Keyboard hint')
+  })
+
+  it('latest action wins: rapid actions announce only the most recent', () => {
+    announce('First', 'action')
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(200) // still within debounce window
+    announce('Second', 'action') // resets the debounce
+
+    jest.advanceTimersByTime(600) // let the second one land
+    expect(mapStatusRef.current.textContent).toBe('Second')
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/services/hints.js b/src/services/hints.js
index 194dad7d..58b61474 100644
--- a/src/services/hints.js
+++ b/src/services/hints.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export function createHints (announce) {
     clearTimer()
     current = { html }
     notify()
-    announce(announceText ?? stripHtml(html), 'plugin')
+    announce(announceText ?? stripHtml(html), 'ambient')
     if (duration > 0) {
       timer = setTimeout(dismiss, duration)
     }
diff --git a/src/services/hints.test.js b/src/services/hints.test.js
index cf530341..0509880b 100644
--- a/src/services/hints.test.js
+++ b/src/services/hints.test.js
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ describe('show', () => {
 
   it('calls announce with stripped html', () => {
     hints.show('<kbd>Enter</kbd> to select')
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Enter to select', 'plugin')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Enter to select', 'ambient')
   })
 
   it('calls announce with custom text when announce option is provided', () => {
     hints.show('<kbd>Alt+K</kbd> help', { announce: 'Press Alt+K for keyboard controls' })
-    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Press Alt+K for keyboard controls', 'plugin')
+    expect(announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Press Alt+K for keyboard controls', 'ambient')
   })
 
   it('replaces an existing hint and resets the timer', () => {