What is the schwa?

In English, if there are two or more syllables in a word, we stress one of them. However, we also usually weaken the other syllable(s). When we have a weak syllable, we are too 'lazy' to pronounce the sound the way it is written and so we usually use a weak 'uh' sound instead. This sound is called the schwa. The schwa /ə/ is a weak sound for weak syllables.

For example:

  • fortune /ˈfɔːtʃuːn/ - the first syllable is stressed, so the 'or' is pronounced as /ɔː/        
  • forɡet /fəˈɡet/ - the first syllable is weak, so the 'or' is pronounced as /ə/ 
     
  • person /ˈpɜːsən/ - the first syllable is stressed, so the 'er' is pronounced as ː/    
  • persuade /pəˈsweɪd/ the first syllable is weak, so the 'er' is pronounced as /ə/ 
     
  • contact /ˈkɒntækt/ - the first syllable is stressed, so the 'o' is pronounced as /                  
  • connect /kəˈnekt/ - the first syllable is weak, so the 'o' is pronounced as /ə/ 
     

Examples with more than one schwa:

  • computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/
  • excellent /ˈeksələnt/
  • banana /bəˈnɑːnə/

Using the schwa helps you to sound more natural.

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