Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
schwa
noun
/ˈʃwɑː/
Definition
The schwa is the mid-central vowel sound in English, usually represented by the symbol ‘ə’ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Examples
- The first syllable in the word ‘sofa’ is pronounced with a schwa sound.
- In the word ‘banana’, the second and last syllables both contain a schwa.
- Many speakers pronounce the ‘a’ in ‘America’ as a schwa.
Meaning
It occurs in unstressed syllables and is the most common vowel sound in English, giving a relaxed and neutral quality to spoken language.
Synonyms
- neutral vowel
- unstressed vowel
- mid-central vowel
