diff --git a/edit-post/components/header/index.js b/edit-post/components/header/index.js
index 264498faf13827..9fcafc7b325825 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/header/index.js
+++ b/edit-post/components/header/index.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function Header( {
 							onClick={ toggleGeneralSidebar }
 							isToggled={ isEditorSidebarOpened }
 							aria-expanded={ isEditorSidebarOpened }
-							shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar.display }
+							shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar }
 						/>
 						<DotTip id="core/editor.settings">
 							{ __( 'You’ll find more settings for your page and blocks in the sidebar. Click “Settings” to open it.' ) }
diff --git a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/config.js b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/config.js
index f77f229c1798f3..0801f45fe37ed9 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/config.js
+++ b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/config.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
-import { displayShortcutList } from '@wordpress/keycodes';
+import { displayShortcutList, shortcutAriaLabel } from '@wordpress/keycodes';
 import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 
 const {
@@ -42,18 +42,21 @@ const globalShortcuts = {
 		{
 			keyCombination: primaryShift( ',' ),
 			description: __( 'Show or hide the settings sidebar.' ),
+			ariaLabel: shortcutAriaLabel.primaryShift( ',' ),
 		},
 		{
 			keyCombination: ctrl( '`' ),
-			description: __( 'Navigate to a the next part of the editor.' ),
+			description: __( 'Navigate to the next part of the editor.' ),
+			ariaLabel: shortcutAriaLabel.ctrl( '`' ),
 		},
 		{
 			keyCombination: ctrlShift( '`' ),
 			description: __( 'Navigate to the previous part of the editor.' ),
+			ariaLabel: shortcutAriaLabel.ctrlShift( '`' ),
 		},
 		{
 			keyCombination: shiftAlt( 'n' ),
-			description: __( 'Navigate to a the next part of the editor (alternative).' ),
+			description: __( 'Navigate to the next part of the editor (alternative).' ),
 		},
 		{
 			keyCombination: shiftAlt( 'p' ),
@@ -76,6 +79,8 @@ const selectionShortcuts = {
 		{
 			keyCombination: 'Esc',
 			description: __( 'Clear selection.' ),
+			/* translators: The 'escape' key on a keyboard. */
+			ariaLabel: __( 'Escape' ),
 		},
 	],
 };
@@ -102,6 +107,8 @@ const blockShortcuts = {
 		{
 			keyCombination: '/',
 			description: __( 'Change the block type after adding a new paragraph.' ),
+			/* translators: The forward-slash character. e.g. '/'. */
+			ariaLabel: __( 'Forward-slash' ),
 		},
 	],
 };
diff --git a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/index.js b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/index.js
index 295d3e9ba5fdcc..cd9715f3123bf9 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/index.js
+++ b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/index.js
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ const mapKeyCombination = ( keyCombination ) => keyCombination.map( ( character,
 
 const ShortcutList = ( { shortcuts } ) => (
 	<dl className="edit-post-keyboard-shortcut-help__shortcut-list">
-		{ shortcuts.map( ( { keyCombination, description }, index ) => (
+		{ shortcuts.map( ( { keyCombination, description, ariaLabel }, index ) => (
 			<div
 				className="edit-post-keyboard-shortcut-help__shortcut"
 				key={ index }
 			>
 				<dt className="edit-post-keyboard-shortcut-help__shortcut-term">
-					<kbd className="edit-post-keyboard-shortcut-help__shortcut-key-combination">
+					<kbd className="edit-post-keyboard-shortcut-help__shortcut-key-combination" aria-label={ ariaLabel }>
 						{ mapKeyCombination( castArray( keyCombination ) ) }
 					</kbd>
 				</dt>
diff --git a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
index c1ccc4ca67a059..29de6e61e6ace7 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
+++ b/edit-post/components/keyboard-shortcut-help-modal/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
+            "ariaLabel": "Control + Shift + Comma",
             "description": "Show or hide the settings sidebar.",
             "keyCombination": Array [
               "Ctrl",
@@ -73,7 +74,8 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
-            "description": "Navigate to a the next part of the editor.",
+            "ariaLabel": "Control + Backtick",
+            "description": "Navigate to the next part of the editor.",
             "keyCombination": Array [
               "Ctrl",
               "+",
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
+            "ariaLabel": "Control + Shift + Backtick",
             "description": "Navigate to the previous part of the editor.",
             "keyCombination": Array [
               "Ctrl",
@@ -91,7 +94,7 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
-            "description": "Navigate to a the next part of the editor (alternative).",
+            "description": "Navigate to the next part of the editor (alternative).",
             "keyCombination": Array [
               "Shift",
               "+",
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
+            "ariaLabel": "Escape",
             "description": "Clear selection.",
             "keyCombination": "Esc",
           },
@@ -191,6 +195,7 @@ exports[`KeyboardShortcutHelpModal should match snapshot when the modal is activ
             ],
           },
           Object {
+            "ariaLabel": "Forward-slash",
             "description": "Change the block type after adding a new paragraph.",
             "keyCombination": "/",
           },
diff --git a/edit-post/components/sidebar/sidebar-header/index.js b/edit-post/components/sidebar/sidebar-header/index.js
index 19b58e26ab5c0b..b0eab693e0f0aa 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/sidebar/sidebar-header/index.js
+++ b/edit-post/components/sidebar/sidebar-header/index.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const SidebarHeader = ( { children, className, closeLabel, closeSidebar, title }
 					onClick={ closeSidebar }
 					icon="no-alt"
 					label={ closeLabel }
-					shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar.display }
+					shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar }
 				/>
 			</div>
 		</Fragment>
diff --git a/edit-post/components/visual-editor/block-inspector-button.js b/edit-post/components/visual-editor/block-inspector-button.js
index f29f081f8a2c8d..09a28d76f7eda4 100644
--- a/edit-post/components/visual-editor/block-inspector-button.js
+++ b/edit-post/components/visual-editor/block-inspector-button.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export function BlockInspectorButton( {
 			onClick={ flow( areAdvancedSettingsOpened ? closeSidebar : openEditorSidebar, speakMessage, onClick ) }
 			icon="admin-generic"
 			label={ small ? label : undefined }
-			shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar.display }
+			shortcut={ shortcuts.toggleSidebar }
 		>
 			{ ! small && label }
 		</MenuItem>
diff --git a/edit-post/keyboard-shortcuts.js b/edit-post/keyboard-shortcuts.js
index be46a74a601864..0f119a7edf3f60 100644
--- a/edit-post/keyboard-shortcuts.js
+++ b/edit-post/keyboard-shortcuts.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
-import { rawShortcut, displayShortcut } from '@wordpress/keycodes';
+import { rawShortcut, displayShortcut, shortcutAriaLabel } from '@wordpress/keycodes';
 
 export default {
 	toggleEditorMode: {
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@ export default {
 	toggleSidebar: {
 		raw: rawShortcut.primaryShift( ',' ),
 		display: displayShortcut.primaryShift( ',' ),
+		ariaLabel: shortcutAriaLabel.primaryShift( ',' ),
 	},
 };
diff --git a/packages/components/src/menu-item/index.js b/packages/components/src/menu-item/index.js
index 27460ce0e0f1ec..f0c2f3cf6046cf 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/menu-item/index.js
+++ b/packages/components/src/menu-item/index.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { cloneElement } from '@wordpress/element';
  * Internal dependencies
  */
 import Button from '../button';
-import Shortcut from './shortcut';
+import Shortcut from '../shortcut';
 import IconButton from '../icon-button';
 
 /**
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ function MenuItem( { children, className, icon, onClick, shortcut, isSelected, r
 				{ ...props }
 			>
 				{ children }
-				<Shortcut shortcut={ shortcut } />
+				<Shortcut className="components-menu-item__shortcut" shortcut={ shortcut } />
 			</IconButton>
 		);
 	}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function MenuItem( { children, className, icon, onClick, shortcut, isSelected, r
 			{ ...props }
 		>
 			{ children }
-			<Shortcut shortcut={ shortcut } />
+			<Shortcut className="components-menu-item__shortcut" shortcut={ shortcut } />
 		</Button>
 	);
 }
diff --git a/packages/components/src/menu-item/shortcut.js b/packages/components/src/menu-item/shortcut.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 582104e2511a84..00000000000000
--- a/packages/components/src/menu-item/shortcut.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-function MenuItemsShortcut( { shortcut } ) {
-	if ( ! shortcut ) {
-		return null;
-	}
-	return (
-		<span className="components-menu-item__shortcut">{ shortcut }</span>
-	);
-}
-
-export default MenuItemsShortcut;
diff --git a/packages/components/src/menu-item/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap b/packages/components/src/menu-item/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
index be23d018ed82ca..1427a4d1d20837 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/menu-item/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
+++ b/packages/components/src/menu-item/test/__snapshots__/index.js.snap
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ exports[`MenuItem should match snapshot when all props provided 1`] = `
   role="menuitemcheckbox"
 >
   My item
-  <MenuItemsShortcut
+  <Shortcut
+    className="components-menu-item__shortcut"
     shortcut="mod+shift+alt+w"
   />
 </IconButton>
@@ -23,7 +24,8 @@ exports[`MenuItem should match snapshot when isSelected and role are optionally
   role="menuitem"
 >
   My item
-  <MenuItemsShortcut
+  <Shortcut
+    className="components-menu-item__shortcut"
     shortcut="mod+shift+alt+w"
   />
 </IconButton>
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ exports[`MenuItem should match snapshot when only label provided 1`] = `
   role="menuitem"
 >
   My item
-  <MenuItemsShortcut />
+  <Shortcut
+    className="components-menu-item__shortcut"
+  />
 </Button>
 `;
diff --git a/packages/components/src/shortcut/index.js b/packages/components/src/shortcut/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..6f41d5287260a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/components/src/shortcut/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * External dependencies
+ */
+import { isString, isObject } from 'lodash';
+
+function Shortcut( { shortcut, className } ) {
+	if ( ! shortcut ) {
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	let displayText;
+	let ariaLabel;
+
+	if ( isString( shortcut ) ) {
+		displayText = shortcut;
+	}
+
+	if ( isObject( shortcut ) ) {
+		displayText = shortcut.display;
+		ariaLabel = shortcut.ariaLabel;
+	}
+
+	return (
+		<span className={ className } aria-label={ ariaLabel }>
+			{ displayText }
+		</span>
+	);
+}
+
+export default Shortcut;
diff --git a/packages/components/src/shortcut/test/index.js b/packages/components/src/shortcut/test/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..7e75665cd653d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/components/src/shortcut/test/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/**
+ * External dependencies
+ */
+import { shallow } from 'enzyme';
+
+/**
+ * Internal dependencies
+ */
+import Shortcut from '../';
+
+describe( 'Shortcut', () => {
+	it( 'does not render anything if no shortcut prop is provided', () => {
+		const wrapper = shallow( <Shortcut /> );
+
+		expect( wrapper.children() ).toHaveLength( 0 );
+	} );
+
+	it( 'renders the shortcut display text when a string is passed as the shortcut', () => {
+		const wrapper = shallow(
+			<Shortcut
+				shortcut="shortcut text"
+			/>
+		);
+
+		expect( wrapper.text() ).toBe( 'shortcut text' );
+	} );
+
+	it( 'renders the shortcut display text and aria-label when an object is passed as the shortcut with the correct properties', () => {
+		const wrapper = shallow(
+			<Shortcut
+				shortcut={ {
+					display: 'shortcut text',
+					ariaLabel: 'shortcut label',
+				} }
+			/>
+		);
+
+		expect( wrapper.text() ).toBe( 'shortcut text' );
+		expect( wrapper.prop( 'aria-label' ) ).toBe( 'shortcut label' );
+	} );
+} );
diff --git a/packages/components/src/tooltip/index.js b/packages/components/src/tooltip/index.js
index 006825866b1f85..de177eeb7492b1 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/tooltip/index.js
+++ b/packages/components/src/tooltip/index.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
  * Internal dependencies
  */
 import Popover from '../popover';
+import Shortcut from '../shortcut';
 
 /**
  * Time over children to wait before showing tooltip
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ class Tooltip extends Component {
 						aria-hidden="true"
 					>
 						{ text }
-						{ shortcut && <span className="components-tooltip__shortcut">{ shortcut }</span> }
+						<Shortcut className="components-tooltip__shortcut" shortcut={ shortcut } />
 					</Popover>
 				),
 			),
diff --git a/packages/components/src/tooltip/test/index.js b/packages/components/src/tooltip/test/index.js
index 04be4b06fdde56..313e58b67062da 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/tooltip/test/index.js
+++ b/packages/components/src/tooltip/test/index.js
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe( 'Tooltip', () => {
 			expect( button.childAt( 1 ).name() ).toBe( 'Popover' );
 			expect( popover.prop( 'focusOnMount' ) ).toBe( false );
 			expect( popover.prop( 'position' ) ).toBe( 'bottom right' );
-			expect( popover.children().text() ).toBe( 'Help text' );
+			expect( popover.children().first().text() ).toBe( 'Help text' );
 		} );
 
 		it( 'should show popover on focus', () => {
diff --git a/packages/keycodes/src/index.js b/packages/keycodes/src/index.js
index 1e74b1b994683d..b9479cb7ff6781 100644
--- a/packages/keycodes/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/keycodes/src/index.js
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@
  */
 import { get, mapValues, includes, capitalize } from 'lodash';
 
+/**
+ * WordPress dependencies
+ */
+import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
+
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
@@ -71,18 +76,18 @@ export const rawShortcut = mapValues( modifiers, ( modifier ) => {
  */
 export const displayShortcutList = mapValues( modifiers, ( modifier ) => {
 	return ( character, _isApple = isAppleOS ) => {
-		const isMac = _isApple();
+		const isApple = _isApple();
 		const replacementKeyMap = {
-			[ ALT ]: isMac ? '⌥' : 'Alt',
-			[ CTRL ]: isMac ? '^' : 'Ctrl',
+			[ ALT ]: isApple ? '⌥' : 'Alt',
+			[ CTRL ]: isApple ? '^' : 'Ctrl',
 			[ COMMAND ]: '⌘',
-			[ SHIFT ]: isMac ? '⇧' : 'Shift',
+			[ SHIFT ]: isApple ? '⇧' : 'Shift',
 		};
 
 		const modifierKeys = modifier( _isApple ).reduce( ( accumulator, key ) => {
 			const replacementKey = get( replacementKeyMap, key, key );
 			// If on the Mac, adhere to platform convention and don't show plus between keys.
-			if ( isMac ) {
+			if ( isApple ) {
 				return [ ...accumulator, replacementKey ];
 			}
 
@@ -100,8 +105,34 @@ export const displayShortcutList = mapValues( modifiers, ( modifier ) => {
  *
  * @type {Object} Keyed map of functions to display shortcuts.
  */
-export const displayShortcut = mapValues( displayShortcutList, ( sequence ) => {
-	return ( character, _isApple = isAppleOS ) => sequence( character, _isApple ).join( '' );
+export const displayShortcut = mapValues( displayShortcutList, ( shortcutList ) => {
+	return ( character, _isApple = isAppleOS ) => shortcutList( character, _isApple ).join( '' );
+} );
+
+/**
+ * An object that contains functions to return an aria label for a keyboard shortcut.
+ * E.g. shortcutAriaLabel.primary( '.' ) will return 'Command + Period' on Mac.
+ */
+export const shortcutAriaLabel = mapValues( modifiers, ( modifier ) => {
+	return ( character, _isApple = isAppleOS ) => {
+		const isApple = _isApple();
+		const replacementKeyMap = {
+			[ SHIFT ]: 'Shift',
+			[ COMMAND ]: isApple ? 'Command' : 'Control',
+			[ CTRL ]: 'Control',
+			[ ALT ]: isApple ? 'Option' : 'Alt',
+			/* translators: comma as in the character ',' */
+			',': __( 'Comma' ),
+			/* translators: period as in the character '.' */
+			'.': __( 'Period' ),
+			/* translators: backtick as in the character '`' */
+			'`': __( 'Backtick' ),
+		};
+
+		return [ ...modifier( _isApple ), character ]
+			.map( ( key ) => capitalize( get( replacementKeyMap, key, key ) ) )
+			.join( isApple ? ' ' : ' + ' );
+	};
 } );
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/keycodes/src/test/index.js b/packages/keycodes/src/test/index.js
index a96e171e7564b3..d795560fcb3a7f 100644
--- a/packages/keycodes/src/test/index.js
+++ b/packages/keycodes/src/test/index.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
 	displayShortcutList,
 	displayShortcut,
 	rawShortcut,
+	shortcutAriaLabel,
 } from '../';
 
 const isAppleOSFalse = () => false;
@@ -130,6 +131,56 @@ describe( 'displayShortcut', () => {
 	} );
 } );
 
+describe( 'shortcutAriaLabel', () => {
+	describe( 'primary', () => {
+		it( 'should output "Control + Period" on Windows', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.primary( '.', isAppleOSFalse );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Control + Period' );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should output "Command Period" on Windows', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.primary( '.', isAppleOSTrue );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Command Period' );
+		} );
+	} );
+
+	describe( 'primaryShift', () => {
+		it( 'should output "Control + Shift + Period" on Windows', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.primaryShift( '.', isAppleOSFalse );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Control + Shift + Period' );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should output "Shift Command Period" on MacOS', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.primaryShift( '.', isAppleOSTrue );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Shift Command Period' );
+		} );
+	} );
+
+	describe( 'secondary', () => {
+		it( 'should output "Control + Shift + Alt + Period" on Windows', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.secondary( '.', isAppleOSFalse );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Control + Shift + Alt + Period' );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should output "Shift Option Command Period" on MacOS', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.secondary( '.', isAppleOSTrue );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Shift Option Command Period' );
+		} );
+	} );
+
+	describe( 'access', () => {
+		it( 'should output "Shift + Alt + Period" on Windows', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.access( '.', isAppleOSFalse );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Shift + Alt + Period' );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should output "Control Option Period" on MacOS', () => {
+			const shortcut = shortcutAriaLabel.access( '.', isAppleOSTrue );
+			expect( shortcut ).toEqual( 'Control Option Period' );
+		} );
+	} );
+} );
+
 describe( 'rawShortcut', () => {
 	describe( 'primary', () => {
 		it( 'should output ctrl on Windows', () => {