The schwa, written /ə/, is the most common vowel sound in English. It is short, weak and relaxed, and it only appears in syllables that are not stressed. Native speakers use it all the time, so using it is a big step towards sounding natural.
| Word | IPA | Where the schwa is |
|---|---|---|
| about | /əˈbaʊt/ | the first syllable |
| banana | /bəˈnɑːnə/ | the first and the last syllable |
| teacher | /ˈtiː.tʃə/ | the last syllable |
| problem | /ˈprɒb.ləm/ | the last syllable |
Small words are weak too. In a normal sentence to, for, of, a and the usually use the schwa: I want to go sounds like /aɪ ˈwɒn tə ɡəʊ/, not “I want too go”.
Find the schwa
Which syllables have the schwa?
Click every syllable where the vowel is a schwa /ə/. Some words have one, some have two. Hint: it is never in the stressed syllable.
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