PHONETICS: /ə/

The most common sound in all varieties of the English language is /ə/ – it is so important that it even has its own name – schwa.

We use it for certain vowel sounds in many common words – about, water, doctor, nature, another, America, where it corresponds to the syllables which do not carry the word stress. In the last two examples, the schwa occurs twice in each of the two words. Another useful example for students is a book and the book. It's probably easier to show students its use with two-syllable words for them to clearly contrast the stressed syllable.

/ə/ at the beginning of a word

• about; again; among; around

Verbs

• admire; appeal; appear; arise;

/ə/ at the end of a word

• able; common; centre; doctor; fashion; foreign; label; level; reason; recent; season; table; woman;

With -en

• children; happen; lengthen; London; sudden; weaken;

With -ten

• listen; often; soften
• fatten; frighten; rotten; tighten;

With -er

• after; brother; daughter; father; mother; other; quarter; teacher; sister; summer; water; winter;

With -ber

• December; November; number; October; September;

With -ther

• feather; leather; weather/whether

With -ure

• feature; future; nature; picture;

With -ion

• action; fashion; mention; passion; station;

Written by Victoria Overton

Native English Spain is dedicated to make learning English simple, fun and affordable for Spanish people.