diff --git a/TTS/tts/utils/text/phonemizers/espeak_wrapper.py b/TTS/tts/utils/text/phonemizers/espeak_wrapper.py
index 024f79c6..281da221 100644
--- a/TTS/tts/utils/text/phonemizers/espeak_wrapper.py
+++ b/TTS/tts/utils/text/phonemizers/espeak_wrapper.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import re
 import subprocess
 from typing import Dict, List
 
@@ -163,6 +164,13 @@ class ESpeak(BasePhonemizer):
 
             # dealing with the conditions descrived above
             ph_decoded = ph_decoded[:1].replace("_", "") + ph_decoded[1:]
+
+            # espeak-ng backend can add language flags that need to be removed:
+            #   "sɛʁtˈɛ̃ mˈo kɔm (en)fˈʊtbɔːl(fr) ʒenˈɛʁ de- flˈaɡ də- lˈɑ̃ɡ."
+            # phonemize needs to remove the language flags of the returned text:
+            #   "sɛʁtˈɛ̃ mˈo kɔm fˈʊtbɔːl ʒenˈɛʁ de- flˈaɡ də- lˈɑ̃ɡ."
+            ph_decoded = re.sub(r"\(.+?\)", "", ph_decoded)
+
             phonemes += ph_decoded.strip()
         return phonemes.replace("_", separator)