diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/data.ts b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/data.ts
index 85b0bda4ad9..67f425d3394 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/data.ts
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/data.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ export const Options: EuiSelectableOption[] = [
   },
   {
     label: 'Dione',
-    id: 'id_dione',
   },
   {
     label: 'Iapetus',
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable.tsx b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable.tsx
index 29993c2bb17..75977051b5b 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable.tsx
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default () => {
 
   return (
     <EuiSelectable
+      aria-label="Basic example"
       options={options}
       listProps={{ bordered: true }}
       onChange={newOptions => setOptions(newOptions)}>
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_custom_render.js b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_custom_render.js
index db103ce7f90..230a1ea86a7 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_custom_render.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_custom_render.js
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ export default class extends Component {
         <EuiSpacer />
 
         <EuiSelectable
+          aria-label="Selectable example with custom list items"
           searchable
           options={options}
           onChange={this.onChange}
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_example.js b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_example.js
index 92c649080d3..97f732ee1ab 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_example.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_example.js
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ export const SelectableExample = {
       },
       demo: <Selectable />,
       snippet: `<EuiSelectable
+  aria-label="Basic example"
   options={[{ label: '' }, { label: '' }]}
   onChange={() => this.onChange(options)}
   listProps={{ bordered: true }}>
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ export const SelectableExample = {
       props: { EuiSelectable },
       demo: <SelectableSearch />,
       snippet: `<EuiSelectable
+  aria-label="Searchable example"
   searchable
   searchProps={{
     'data-test-subj': dataTestSubj,
@@ -183,12 +185,13 @@ export const SelectableExample = {
       demo: <SelectableSingle />,
       snippet: `
       <EuiSelectable
-        options={options}
-        onChange={this.onChange}
-        singleSelection={true}
-        listProps={{ bordered: true }}>
-        {list => list}
-      </EuiSelectable>
+  aria-label="Single selection example"
+  options={options}
+  onChange={this.onChange}
+  singleSelection={true}
+  listProps={{ bordered: true }}>
+  {list => list}
+</EuiSelectable>
     `,
     },
     {
@@ -255,6 +258,7 @@ export const SelectableExample = {
       props: { EuiSelectable },
       demo: <SelectableExclusion />,
       snippet: `<EuiSelectable
+  aria-label="Example supporting exclusions"
   allowExclusions
   options={[]}
   onChange={() => this.onChange(options)}>
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_exclusion.tsx b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_exclusion.tsx
index 1a4c87d27b1..48614971c55 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_exclusion.tsx
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_exclusion.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default () => {
 
   return (
     <EuiSelectable
+      aria-label="Example of Selectable supporting exclusions"
       allowExclusions
       options={options}
       onChange={newOptions => setOptions(newOptions)}>
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_messages.tsx b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_messages.tsx
index 95ec006c00a..26da0f56b65 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_messages.tsx
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_messages.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,11 @@ export default () => {
         checked={isLoading}
       />
       <EuiSpacer />
-      <EuiSelectable options={[]} style={{ width: 200 }} isLoading={isLoading}>
+      <EuiSelectable
+        aria-label="Messaging example"
+        options={[]}
+        style={{ width: 200 }}
+        isLoading={isLoading}>
         {list => (useCustomMessage && !isLoading ? customMessage : list)}
       </EuiSelectable>
     </Fragment>
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_popover.js b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_popover.js
index a87f2df99cc..0f4d2822a4e 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_popover.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_popover.js
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ export default class extends Component {
             onClose={this.closeFlyout}
             aria-labelledby="flyoutTitle">
             <EuiSelectable
+              aria-label="Popover example"
               searchable
               options={countries}
               onChange={this.onFlyoutChange}
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ export default class extends Component {
         <EuiSpacer />
 
         <EuiSelectable
+          aria-label="Bordered selectable example"
           options={options}
           onChange={() => {}}
           style={{ width: 300 }}
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_search.tsx b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_search.tsx
index 4566e56ab71..6649a7ac9cd 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_search.tsx
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_search.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export default () => {
   return (
     <Fragment>
       <EuiSelectable
+        aria-label="Searchable example"
         searchable
         searchProps={{
           'data-test-subj': 'selectableSearchHere',
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_single.tsx b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_single.tsx
index fb884cf08ee..41535529f19 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_single.tsx
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/selectable/selectable_single.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export default () => {
 
   return (
     <EuiSelectable
+      aria-label="Single selection example"
       options={options}
       onChange={newOptions => setOptions(newOptions)}
       singleSelection={true}
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/__snapshots__/selectable.test.tsx.snap b/src/components/selectable/__snapshots__/selectable.test.tsx.snap
index ec2b5e77f42..7bbd9e21b00 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/__snapshots__/selectable.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/components/selectable/__snapshots__/selectable.test.tsx.snap
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 exports[`EuiSelectable is rendered 1`] = `
 <div
-  aria-label="aria-label"
   class="euiSelectable testClass1 testClass2"
   data-test-subj="test subject string"
 />
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable.test.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable.test.tsx
index 0a886af1047..9a16c3f7889 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable.test.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ const options: EuiSelectableOption[] = [
   },
 ];
 
+// Mock the htmlIdGenerator to generate predictable ids for snapshot tests
+jest.mock('../../services/accessibility/html_id_generator', () => ({
+  htmlIdGenerator: () => () => 'htmlId',
+}));
+
 describe('EuiSelectable', () => {
   test('is rendered', () => {
     const component = render(
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable.tsx
index e9ad28f45c2..c752a528e6d 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable.tsx
@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ import { EuiSelectableMessage } from './selectable_message';
 import { EuiSelectableList } from './selectable_list';
 import { EuiLoadingChart } from '../loading';
 import { getMatchingOptions } from './matching_options';
-import { comboBoxKeyCodes } from '../../services';
+import { comboBoxKeyCodes, htmlIdGenerator } from '../../services';
 import { EuiI18n } from '../i18n';
 import { EuiSelectableOption } from './selectable_option';
 import { EuiSelectableOptionsListProps } from './selectable_list/selectable_list';
+import { EuiSelectableSearchProps } from './selectable_search/selectable_search';
 
 type RequiredEuiSelectableOptionsListProps = Omit<
   EuiSelectableOptionsListProps,
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ type EuiSelectableSearchableProps = ExclusiveUnion<
     /**
      * Passes props down to the `EuiFieldSearch`
      */
-    searchProps?: {};
+    searchProps?: Partial<EuiSelectableSearchProps>;
   }
 >;
 
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ export class EuiSelectable extends Component<
   };
 
   private optionsListRef = createRef<EuiSelectableList>();
-
+  rootId = htmlIdGenerator();
   constructor(props: EuiSelectableProps) {
     super(props);
 
@@ -302,11 +303,31 @@ export class EuiSelectable extends Component<
       renderOption,
       height,
       allowExclusions,
+      'aria-label': ariaLabel,
+      'aria-describedby': ariaDescribedby,
       ...rest
     } = this.props;
 
     const { searchValue, visibleOptions, activeOptionIndex } = this.state;
 
+    // Some messy destructuring here to remove aria-label/describedby from searchProps and listProps
+    // Made messier by some TS requirements
+    // The aria attributes are then used in getAccessibleName() to place them where they need to go
+    const unknownAccessibleName = {
+      'aria-label': undefined,
+      'aria-describedby': undefined,
+    };
+    const {
+      'aria-label': searchAriaLabel,
+      'aria-describedby': searchAriaDescribedby,
+      ...cleanedSearchProps
+    } = searchProps || unknownAccessibleName;
+    const {
+      'aria-label': listAriaLabel,
+      'aria-describedby': listAriaDescribedby,
+      ...cleanedListProps
+    } = listProps || unknownAccessibleName;
+
     let messageContent;
 
     if (isLoading) {
@@ -351,37 +372,110 @@ export class EuiSelectable extends Component<
       className
     );
 
+    const listId = this.rootId('listbox');
+    const makeOptionId = (index: number | undefined) => {
+      if (typeof index === 'undefined') {
+        return '';
+      }
+
+      return `${listId}_option-${index}`;
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * There are lots of ways to add an accessible name
+     * Usually we want the same name for the input and the listbox (which is added by aria-label/describedby)
+     * But you can always override it using searchProps or listProps
+     * This finds the correct name to use
+     *
+     * TODO: This doesn't handle being labelled (<label for="idOfInput">)
+     *
+     * @param props
+     */
+    const getAccessibleName = (
+      props:
+        | Partial<EuiSelectableSearchProps>
+        | EuiSelectableOptionsListPropsWithDefaults
+        | undefined
+    ) => {
+      if (props && props['aria-label']) {
+        return { 'aria-label': props['aria-label'] };
+      }
+
+      if (props && props['aria-describedby']) {
+        return {
+          'aria-describedby': props['aria-describedby'],
+        };
+      }
+
+      if (ariaLabel) {
+        return { 'aria-label': ariaLabel };
+      }
+
+      if (ariaDescribedby) {
+        return { 'aria-describedby': ariaDescribedby };
+      }
+
+      return {};
+    };
+
+    const searchAccessibleName = getAccessibleName(searchProps);
+    const searchHasAccessibleName = Boolean(
+      Object.keys(searchAccessibleName).length
+    );
     const search = searchable ? (
-      <EuiSelectableSearch
-        key="listSearch"
-        options={options}
-        onChange={this.onSearchChange}
-        {...searchProps}
-      />
+      <EuiI18n token="euiSelectable.placeholderName" default="Filter options">
+        {(placeholderName: string) => (
+          <EuiSelectableSearch
+            key="listSearch"
+            options={options}
+            onChange={this.onSearchChange}
+            listId={listId}
+            aria-activedescendant={makeOptionId(activeOptionIndex)} // the current faux-focused option
+            placeholder={placeholderName}
+            {...(searchHasAccessibleName
+              ? searchAccessibleName
+              : { 'aria-label': placeholderName })}
+            {...cleanedSearchProps}
+          />
+        )}
+      </EuiI18n>
     ) : (
       undefined
     );
 
+    const listAccessibleName = getAccessibleName(listProps);
+    const listHasAccessibleName = Boolean(
+      Object.keys(listAccessibleName).length
+    );
     const list = messageContent ? (
       <EuiSelectableMessage key="listMessage">
         {messageContent}
       </EuiSelectableMessage>
     ) : (
-      <EuiSelectableList
-        key="list"
-        options={options}
-        visibleOptions={visibleOptions}
-        searchValue={searchValue}
-        activeOptionIndex={activeOptionIndex}
-        onOptionClick={this.onOptionClick}
-        singleSelection={singleSelection}
-        ref={this.optionsListRef}
-        renderOption={renderOption}
-        height={height}
-        allowExclusions={allowExclusions}
-        searchable={searchable}
-        {...listProps}
-      />
+      <EuiI18n token="euiSelectable.placeholderName" default="Filter options">
+        {(placeholderName: string) => (
+          <EuiSelectableList
+            key="list"
+            options={options}
+            visibleOptions={visibleOptions}
+            searchValue={searchValue}
+            activeOptionIndex={activeOptionIndex}
+            onOptionClick={this.onOptionClick}
+            singleSelection={singleSelection}
+            ref={this.optionsListRef}
+            renderOption={renderOption}
+            height={height}
+            allowExclusions={allowExclusions}
+            searchable={searchable}
+            makeOptionId={makeOptionId}
+            listId={listId}
+            {...(listHasAccessibleName
+              ? listAccessibleName
+              : searchable && { 'aria-label': placeholderName })}
+            {...cleanedListProps}
+          />
+        )}
+      </EuiI18n>
     );
 
     return (
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/__snapshots__/selectable_list.test.tsx.snap b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/__snapshots__/selectable_list.test.tsx.snap
index 04f3bf1411a..bf34412568e 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/__snapshots__/selectable_list.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/__snapshots__/selectable_list.test.tsx.snap
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem is rendered 1`] = `
 <div
-  aria-label="aria-label"
   class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
   data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
@@ -14,7 +13,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem is rendered 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props activeOptionIndex 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props activeOptionIndex 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props allowExclusions 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -34,7 +35,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props allowExclusions 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props bordered 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList euiSelectableList-bordered"
+  class="euiSelectableList euiSelectableList-bordered testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -44,7 +46,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props bordered 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props height is forced 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -54,7 +57,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props height is forced 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props height is full 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList euiSelectableList-fullHeight"
+  class="euiSelectableList euiSelectableList-fullHeight testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;height:0;width:0"
@@ -64,7 +68,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props height is full 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props renderOption 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -74,7 +79,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props renderOption 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props rowHeight 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -84,7 +90,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props rowHeight 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props searchValue 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -94,7 +101,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props searchValue 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props searchValue 2`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -104,7 +112,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props searchValue 2`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props showIcons can be turned off 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -114,7 +123,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props showIcons can be turned off 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props singleSelection can be forced so that at least one must be selected 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -124,7 +134,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props singleSelection can be forced so that at le
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props singleSelection can be turned on 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
@@ -134,7 +145,8 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props singleSelection can be turned on 1`] = `
 
 exports[`EuiSelectableListItem props visibleOptions 1`] = `
 <div
-  class="euiSelectableList"
+  class="euiSelectableList testClass1 testClass2"
+  data-test-subj="test subject string"
 >
   <div
     style="overflow:visible;width:0"
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.test.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.test.tsx
index e3438063e7a..868a27a0a6f 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.test.tsx
@@ -33,15 +33,17 @@ const options: EuiSelectableOption[] = [
   },
 ];
 
-// tslint:disable:no-empty
+const selectableListRequiredProps = {
+  makeOptionId: (index: number | undefined) => `option_${index}`,
+  listId: 'list',
+  onOptionClick: () => {},
+  ...requiredProps,
+};
+
 describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
   test('is rendered', () => {
     const component = render(
-      <EuiSelectableList
-        options={options}
-        onOptionClick={() => {}}
-        {...requiredProps}
-      />
+      <EuiSelectableList options={options} {...selectableListRequiredProps} />
     );
 
     expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           visibleOptions={options.slice(2)}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           searchValue="Mi"
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           searchValue="Mi"
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
               </span>
             );
           }}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           height={200}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           height="full"
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -130,7 +132,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           allowExclusions
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           activeOptionIndex={2}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -154,7 +156,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           rowHeight={20}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -166,7 +168,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           showIcons={false}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -178,7 +180,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           singleSelection={true}
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           singleSelection="always"
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableListItem', () => {
         <EuiSelectableList
           options={options}
           bordered
-          onOptionClick={() => {}}
+          {...selectableListRequiredProps}
         />
       );
 
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.tsx
index 2e7bf1485dc..c8b44979bdf 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_list/selectable_list.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component, HTMLAttributes, ReactNode, memo } from 'react';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import { CommonProps } from '../../common';
-import { htmlIdGenerator } from '../../../services';
 import {
   EuiSelectableListItem,
   EuiSelectableListItemProps,
@@ -81,8 +80,9 @@ export type EuiSelectableListProps = EuiSelectableOptionsListProps & {
    * and not just on and undefined
    */
   allowExclusions?: boolean;
-  rootId?: (appendix?: string) => string;
   searchable?: boolean;
+  makeOptionId: (index: number | undefined) => string;
+  listId: string;
 };
 
 export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
@@ -91,18 +91,9 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
     searchValue: '',
   };
 
-  rootId = this.props.rootId || htmlIdGenerator();
   listRef: FixedSizeList | null = null;
   listBoxRef: HTMLUListElement | null = null;
 
-  makeOptionId(index: number | undefined) {
-    if (typeof index === 'undefined') {
-      return '';
-    }
-
-    return this.rootId(`_option-${index}`);
-  }
-
   setListRef = (ref: FixedSizeList | null) => {
     this.listRef = ref;
 
@@ -113,18 +104,32 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
 
   setListBoxRef = (ref: HTMLUListElement | null) => {
     this.listBoxRef = ref;
+    const {
+      listId,
+      searchable,
+      singleSelection,
+      'aria-label': ariaLabel,
+      'aria-describedby': ariaDescribedby,
+    } = this.props;
 
     if (ref) {
-      ref.setAttribute('id', this.rootId('listbox'));
-      ref.setAttribute('role', 'listBox');
+      ref.setAttribute('id', listId);
+      ref.setAttribute('role', 'listbox');
 
-      if (this.props.searchable !== true) {
+      if (searchable !== true) {
         ref.setAttribute('tabindex', '0');
       }
 
+      if (typeof ariaLabel === 'string') {
+        ref.setAttribute('aria-label', ariaLabel);
+      } else if (typeof ariaDescribedby === 'string') {
+        ref.setAttribute('aria-describedby', ariaDescribedby);
+      }
+
       if (
-        this.props.singleSelection !== 'always' &&
-        this.props.singleSelection !== true
+        singleSelection !== 'always' &&
+        singleSelection !== true &&
+        searchable !== true
       ) {
         ref.setAttribute('aria-multiselectable', 'true');
       }
@@ -134,10 +139,10 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
   componentDidUpdate() {
     const { activeOptionIndex } = this.props;
 
-    if (this.listBoxRef) {
+    if (this.listBoxRef && this.props.searchable !== true) {
       this.listBoxRef.setAttribute(
         'aria-activedescendant',
-        `${this.makeOptionId(activeOptionIndex)}`
+        `${this.props.makeOptionId(activeOptionIndex)}`
       );
     }
 
@@ -180,7 +185,7 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
 
     return (
       <EuiSelectableListItem
-        id={this.makeOptionId(index)}
+        id={this.props.makeOptionId(index)}
         style={style}
         key={key || label.toLowerCase()}
         onClick={() => this.onAddOrRemoveOption(option)}
@@ -213,13 +218,15 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
       windowProps,
       rowHeight,
       activeOptionIndex,
-      rootId,
+      makeOptionId,
       showIcons,
       singleSelection,
       visibleOptions,
       allowExclusions,
       bordered,
       searchable,
+      listId,
+      'aria-label': ariaLabel,
       ...rest
     } = this.props;
 
@@ -262,6 +269,7 @@ export class EuiSelectableList extends Component<EuiSelectableListProps> {
             <FixedSizeList
               ref={this.setListRef}
               className="euiSelectableList__list"
+              data-skip-axe="scrollable-region-focusable"
               width={width}
               height={calculatedHeight || height}
               itemCount={optionArray.length}
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_option.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable_option.tsx
index e9d0ff3a7cd..ab73d301bf7 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_option.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_option.tsx
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ export interface EuiSelectableGroupLabelOption
   isGroupLabel: true;
 }
 
-export interface EuiSelectableButtonOption
+export interface EuiSelectableLIOption
   extends EuiSelectableOptionBase,
-    ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> {}
+    ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLLIElement> {}
 
 export type EuiSelectableOption = ExclusiveUnion<
   EuiSelectableGroupLabelOption,
-  EuiSelectableButtonOption
+  EuiSelectableLIOption
 >;
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/__snapshots__/selectable_search.test.tsx.snap b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/__snapshots__/selectable_search.test.tsx.snap
index 71cd413bde2..917776643ee 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/__snapshots__/selectable_search.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/__snapshots__/selectable_search.test.tsx.snap
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableSearch is rendered 1`] = `
     class="euiFormControlLayout__childrenWrapper"
   >
     <input
+      aria-autocomplete="list"
+      aria-controls="list"
+      aria-expanded="true"
+      aria-haspopup="listbox"
       aria-label="aria-label"
+      aria-owns="list"
+      autocomplete="off"
       class="euiFieldSearch euiFieldSearch--fullWidth euiSelectableSearch testClass1 testClass2"
       data-test-subj="test subject string"
-      placeholder="Filter options"
+      role="combobox"
       type="search"
       value=""
     />
@@ -40,8 +46,14 @@ exports[`EuiSelectableSearch props defaultValue 1`] = `
     class="euiFormControlLayout__childrenWrapper"
   >
     <input
+      aria-autocomplete="list"
+      aria-controls="list"
+      aria-expanded="true"
+      aria-haspopup="listbox"
+      aria-owns="list"
+      autocomplete="off"
       class="euiFieldSearch euiFieldSearch--fullWidth euiSelectableSearch"
-      placeholder="Filter options"
+      role="combobox"
       type="search"
       value="Mi"
     />
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.test.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.test.tsx
index 3262020bb3d..e5390a057f5 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.test.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { EuiSelectableSearch } from './selectable_search';
 describe('EuiSelectableSearch', () => {
   test('is rendered', () => {
     const component = render(
-      <EuiSelectableSearch options={[]} {...requiredProps} />
+      <EuiSelectableSearch options={[]} listId="list" {...requiredProps} />
     );
 
     expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ describe('EuiSelectableSearch', () => {
   describe('props', () => {
     test('defaultValue', () => {
       const component = render(
-        <EuiSelectableSearch options={[]} defaultValue="Mi" />
+        <EuiSelectableSearch options={[]} listId="list" defaultValue="Mi" />
       );
 
       expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
diff --git a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.tsx b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.tsx
index c378d6a57b4..01671c0f595 100644
--- a/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.tsx
+++ b/src/components/selectable/selectable_search/selectable_search.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
-import React, { Component, InputHTMLAttributes } from 'react';
+import React, { Component } from 'react';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import { CommonProps } from '../../common';
 import { EuiFieldSearch, EuiFieldSearchProps } from '../../form';
 import { getMatchingOptions } from '../matching_options';
 import { EuiSelectableOption } from '../selectable_option';
-import { EuiI18n } from '../../i18n';
 
-export type EuiSelectableSearchProps = Omit<
-  InputHTMLAttributes<HTMLInputElement> & EuiFieldSearchProps,
-  'onChange'
-> &
+export type EuiSelectableSearchProps = Omit<EuiFieldSearchProps, 'onChange'> &
   CommonProps & {
     /**
      * Passes back (matchingOptions, searchValue)
@@ -20,6 +16,7 @@ export type EuiSelectableSearchProps = Omit<
     ) => void;
     options: EuiSelectableOption[];
     defaultValue: string;
+    listId: string;
   };
 
 export interface EuiSelectableSearchState {
@@ -63,26 +60,35 @@ export class EuiSelectableSearch extends Component<
   };
 
   render() {
-    const { className, onChange, options, defaultValue, ...rest } = this.props;
+    const {
+      className,
+      onChange,
+      options,
+      defaultValue,
+      listId,
+      placeholder,
+      ...rest
+    } = this.props;
 
     const classes = classNames('euiSelectableSearch', className);
 
     return (
-      <EuiI18n
-        token="euiSelectableSearch.placeholderName"
-        default="Filter options">
-        {(placeholderName: string) => (
-          <EuiFieldSearch
-            className={classes}
-            placeholder={placeholderName}
-            onSearch={this.onSearchChange}
-            incremental
-            defaultValue={defaultValue}
-            fullWidth
-            {...rest}
-          />
-        )}
-      </EuiI18n>
+      <EuiFieldSearch
+        className={classes}
+        placeholder={placeholder}
+        onSearch={this.onSearchChange}
+        incremental
+        defaultValue={defaultValue}
+        fullWidth
+        autoComplete="off"
+        role="combobox"
+        aria-autocomplete="list"
+        aria-expanded="true"
+        aria-controls={listId}
+        aria-owns={listId} // legacy attribute but shims support for nearly everything atm
+        aria-haspopup="listbox"
+        {...rest}
+      />
     );
   }
 }