diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 88fabfd7..a20ef43d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ libttsespeak.so
 android/res/raw/espeakdata.zip
 android/res/raw/espeakdata_version
 
+local.properties
+
+# android gradle output:
+
+.gradle/
+build/
+
 # autotools
 
 AUTHORS
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 6fe3af95..7c42de2d 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ EXTRA_DIST += ChangeLog
 
 ##### standard build actions:
 
-all: src/speak src/libespeak.so src/libespeak.a src/espeak src/espeakedit espeak-data/phontab dictionaries docs/speak_lib.h
+all: jni espeakdata apk-release
 
 install:
 	cd src && make DESTDIR=$(DESTDIR) PREFIX=$(PREFIX) BINDIR=$(BINDIR) INCDIR=$(INCDIR) LIBDIR=$(LIBDIR) install && cd ..
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ install:
 
 clean:
 	cd src && rm -f *.o *~ && cd ..
+	cd android && gradle clean
 
 distclean: clean
 	cd src && rm -f libespeak.a libespeak.so.* speak espeak espeakedit && cd ..
@@ -123,6 +124,12 @@ espeak-data/phontab: src/espeakedit espeak-data/dictsource/dir.stamp espeak-data
 jni:
 	cd android && ndk-build
 
+apk-release:
+	cd android && gradle assembleRelease
+
+apk-debug:
+	cd android && gradle assembleDebug
+
 android/res/raw/espeakdata.zip: espeak-data/phontab dictionaries
 	mkdir -pv android/res/raw
 	rm -f $@
@@ -133,8 +140,7 @@ android/res/raw/espeakdata.zip: espeak-data/phontab dictionaries
 android/res/raw/espeakdata_version: android/res/raw/espeakdata.zip
 	sha1sum $< | awk '{ print $$1 }' > $@
 
-android: \
-	jni \
+espeakdata: \
 	android/res/raw/espeakdata.zip \
 	android/res/raw/espeakdata_version
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0fa472de..d3b113a4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,40 +17,59 @@ If you are building with Eclipse, you will also need:
 1.  Eclipse
 2.  Android Developer Tools (ADT) for Eclipse
 
-If you are building on the command line, you will also need:
+If you are building on the command line, you will also need either:
 
-1.  ant (e.g. run `sudo apt-get install ant` on a Debian-based distribution)
+1.  ant (e.g. run `sudo apt-get install ant` on a Debian-based distribution), or
+2.  gradle 1.6, which can be installed from the
+    [Ubuntu PPA](https://launchpad.net/~cwchien/+archive/gradle/+files/gradle_1.6-0ubuntu1_all.deb)
+    debian file (including on Debian systems)
 
-## Building eSpeak
+## Building with Gradle
 
-The eSpeak language data file and the JNI bindings needed for the Android
-APK can be build using the following commands:
+1.  Set the location of the Android SDK:
 
-    $ ./autogen.sh
-    $ ./configure --prefix=/usr
-    $ make android
+        $ export ANDROID_HOME=<path-to-sdk>
+2.  Build the project:
 
-## Building the APK with Eclipse
+        $ ./autogen.sh
+        $ ./configure
+        $ make
 
-1.  Open Eclipse.
-2.  Create a new workspace.
-3.  Import the espeak folder as an exising Android project.
-4.  Build the espeak apk within Eclipse.
+This will create an `android/build/apk/espeak-release-unsigned.apk` file.
+
+## Building with Eclipse
+
+1.  Build the JNI binding and espeak data file by running:
+
+        $ ./autogen.sh
+        $ ./configure
+        $ make jni espeakdata
+2.  Open Eclipse.
+3.  Create a new workspace.
+4.  Import the espeak folder as an exising Android project.
+5.  Build the espeak apk within Eclipse.
 
 The generated `eSpeakActivity.apk` can be installed like any other apk build
 via eclipse, such as by using the `Run` menu option.
 
-## Building the APK from the Command Line
+## Building with Ant
 
-1.  Update the project using the Android utility which is part of the SDK:
+1.  Build the JNI binding and espeak data file by running:
+
+        $ ./autogen.sh
+        $ ./configure
+        $ make jni espeakdata
+2.  Update the project using the Android utility which is part of the SDK:
 
         $ cd android
         $ android update project -s -t 1 -p .
-2.  Build the package.
+3.  Build the package.
 
         $ ant release
 
-In order to install the built `bin/eSpeakActivity-release-unsigned.apk` APK,
+## Signing the APK
+
+In order to install the built APK (e.g. `bin/eSpeakActivity-release-unsigned.apk`)
 you need to self-sign the package. You can do this by:
 
 1.  Creating a certificate, if you do not already have one:
@@ -66,6 +85,8 @@ you need to self-sign the package. You can do this by:
         $ zipalign 4 bin/eSpeakActivity-release-unsigned.apk \
           bin/eSpeakActivity-release-signed.apk
 
+## Installing the APK
+
 Now, you can install the APK using the `adb` tool:
 
     $ adb install -r bin/eSpeakActivity-release-signed.apk
diff --git a/android/build.gradle b/android/build.gradle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d2eff65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/build.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+buildscript {
+	repositories {
+		mavenCentral()
+	}
+	dependencies {
+		classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:0.4.2'
+	}
+}
+
+apply plugin: 'android'
+
+android {
+	buildToolsVersion '17.0'
+	compileSdkVersion 17
+
+	sourceSets {
+		main {
+			manifest.srcFile 'AndroidManifest.xml'
+			java.srcDirs = ['src']
+			res.srcDirs = ['res']
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+tasks.withType(com.android.build.gradle.tasks.PackageApplication) {
+	pkgTask -> pkgTask.jniDir new File(projectDir, 'libs')
+}
diff --git a/android/settings.gradle b/android/settings.gradle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..10485fa2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/settings.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+rootProject.name = 'espeak'