SupraEnglish
Pronunciation
Pronunciation/Unit 4: The Schwa (/ə/)

Vocabulary

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Schwa

//ʃwɑː//

"Lazy vowel /ə/."

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Lazy

//ˈleɪ.zi//

"Not active."

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Banana

//bəˈnɑː.nə//

"Fruit."

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Computer

//kəmˈpjuː.tər//

"PC."

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About

//əˈbaʊt//

"Regarding."

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System

//ˈsɪs.təm//

"Structure."

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Pencil

//ˈpen.səl//

"Writer."

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Doctor

//ˈdɒk.tər//

"Medic."

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Police

//pəˈliːs//

"Cop."

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Support

//səˈpɔːt//

"Help."

Article

The Most Common Sound 😴

The Schwa /ə/ is the secret to English rhythm. It is a tiny, weak, lazy 'uh' sound.

ANY vowel (A, E, I, O, U) can become a Schwa if it is NOT STRESSED.

  • About -> /əˈbaʊt/ (Not 'Ay-bout').
  • Teacher -> /ˈtiː.tʃər/ (Not 'Teach-EHR').
  • Lemon -> /ˈlem.ən/ (Not 'Lem-ON').

If you pronounce fully every vowel, you sound weird.

Practice

Progress: 0/10
Score: 0
1.

Which symbol is the Schwa?

2.

Schwa happens in ___ syllables.

3.

How many schwas in 'Banana'?

4.

Does the 'o' in 'Lemon' sound like 'O'?

5.

Pronounce 'Police'. Po- is...

6.

Pronounce 'Tomorrow'. To- is...

7.

Schwa sounds like a weak...

8.

Is Schwa short or long?

9.

Can the letter 'A' be a schwa?

10.

Can the letter 'I' be a schwa?

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