Schwa - English Pronunciation - e Learn English Language

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English Pronunciation: The Schwa

The

symbol is called a schwa (

). It is a neutral vowel sound and is used in unstressed syllables. All five English vowels, including the semi-vowel Y, are sometimes pronounced as a schwa.

Click on the sample words to listen to the sound files. The letter pronounced as a schwa is in bold.

Schwa	Vowel	Examples
	a	about (bt)	capable (keIpbl)	sofa (sf)

	e		enemy (nmi)

	i		incredible (Ikrdbl)

	o	oppose (pz)	gallop (glp)

	u		focus (fks)

	y		vinyl (vnl)

Note: When a word ends with (consonant + l + e), the sound of the (l+e) is actually a schwa + l sound (-l).

Click on the sample words to listen to the sound files.

Schwa	Examples
	noodle
	uncle
	apple
	incredible
	puzzle

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