How to Pronounce the /ə/ Sound

secondary vowel sounds vowel sounds

Now, we're gonna see how we can learn to produce the /ə/ sound in the English language. Also, see what letters represent it.

In this lesson, we are going to learn how the sound /ə/ is produced by looking at the articulatory organs.

What Type of Sound Is /ə/?

/ə/ is similar to /ɜ/ but it is always shorter. It is the most common vowel sound in English in a way that words with more than two syllables have at least one schwa.

How to Produce /ə/?

how to pronounce /ə/

To pronounce it, as in picture (a) open your mouth very slightly, relax your lips as you think about something and say ‘ehhh’.

/ə/ can be seen in such letters:

other /ˈʌð.ɚ/

literally /ˈlɪt̬.ɚ.əl.i/

system /ˈsɪs.təm/

circus /ˈsɝː.kəs/

upon /əˈpɑːn/

easily /ˈiː.zəl.i/

cousin /ˈkʌz.ən/

gallop /ˈɡæl.əp/

today /təˈdeɪ/

alone /əˈloʊn/

sofa /ˈsoʊ.fə/

vinyl /ˈvaɪ.nəl/

syringe /səˈrɪndʒ/

Listening

Let's listen to the pronunciation of the /ə/ sound which has been mentioned below:

How to Pronounce the /u/ Sound

In this lesson, we're gonna learn about the /u/ sound and how we can pronounce it. We've provided you with steps to easily pronounce it correctly.

How to Pronounce the /ʊ/ Sound

If you wanna improve your knowledge of phonology, you'd better join me here and learn about the /ʊ/ sound. What's holding you back, then?

How to Pronounce the /ɜ/ Sound

Do you wanna know more about the /ɜ/ sound? Have you read anything about it before? Well, it's time for you to expand your knowledge.

Download LanGeek app

Langeek