Schwa Sound Words List with Examples

In English grammar, the word schwa is considered to be the most misunderstood sound. Most of the time it happens that people have heard about schwa but they rarely know the concept of it. 

Schwa Vowel Sound in English Pronounciation

When we use the reduced vowel sound then it is called schwa, It is the most widely used vowel sound in spoken English. As you’ll see Schwa is a quick, relaxed, neutral way of pronouncing vowels. Schwa allows us to quickly pronounce unstressed syllables so the main beats of spoken words are easier to place on the stressed syllables.

Schwa does not have an exact and standard pronunciation but is quite identical to the pronunciation of short u. Schwa is symbolized using /?/.

There are four most important points which you need to understand about schwa sound. 

  • You might notice that every vowel may say the schwa sound. 
  • It is considered to be the most common sound in each and every dialect of English. 
  • Schwa may sound like /u/ or /i/ in English words. 
  • The schwa sounds mostly occurs in the unaccented syllables and unaccented words.

How To Teach Schwa Words to Students

If you are trying to make students understand the schwa, you need to think of the vowels. You can make them learn with a few simple experiments. If you wish to understand the vowels, then you would have to develop the kinesthetic awareness of sound. It is exactly what we mean by the schwa sound. 

1. Make the schwa sound louder and open your mouth larger

When you open your mouth larger, you could observe the movements of your jaw. It will assist you in bringing out the right pronunciation. 

Note: By making proper and louder pronunciation, then only you can learn it.

2. The Vowel sound makes a word louder or softer

Vowels are words which can be made louder or softer. As a learner or beginner, you need to recognize the vowels by making different sounds. 

Spelling Words with Schwa Sound List

Let get to know what are some of the Schwa Sound Words and what sounds they make.

VowelWord 1Word 2Word 3
APleasantAgainBalloon
EProblemCelebrateEnemy
IDuplicatePresidentFamily
OParrotBottomFreedom
USupportCircumstancesAlbum
YSyringeAnalysisPennsylvania

As you can see that most of the Schwa Sounding words would end in er, ar, or, our, re, a. 

List of -er ending schwa words

  • Hotter
  • Sharper
  • Lighter
  • Smoother
  • Braver
  • Wider
  • Tidier
  • Nastier
  • Heavier

List of -or ending schwa words

  • Actor
  • Doctor
  • Collector
  • Inspector
  • Instructor
  • Visitor
  • Creditor
  • Exhibitor

 List of -ar ending schwa words

  • Burglar
  • Cellar
  • Collar
  • Dollar
  • Caterpillar
  • Circular
  • Scholar
  • Popular

List of -our ending schwa words

  • Pour
  • Four
  • Hour
  • Your
  • Tour
  • Flour

Sentences Using Schwa Sounding Words

Let’s work on the sentence examples which will help you in understanding the application of the Schwa Sounding Word.

1. Pleasant

Example: A young child paddles in the sea for the first time, fascinated by the pleasant feeling of the water.

2. Problem

Example: The factory is recalling all the cars because of a problem with the brakes.

3. Duplicate

Example: The key to franchise success is being able to duplicate what someone else has already successfully done.

4. Parrot

Example: When you spin the thaumatrope, the images appear to combine, putting the parrot inside the birdcage.

5. Support

Example: The basic pattern of limb action in quadrupedally running lizards is the trot, in which body support is maintained by diagonally opposite limbs.

6. Syringe

Example: An empty syringe lay at her feet where Brian had dropped it when Tom attacked him.

7. Again

Example: Meanwhile, giving up trying again to clear the Vicar Lane pavement of gawpers, they lowered all the blinds.

8. Celebrate

Example: We celebrate the final episode of a beloved sitcom as if it were awake for an old friend.

9. President

Example: The company president issued a diktat that employees may not wear jeans to work.

10. Bottom

Example: He came rushing down the stairs, barging into the crowd of people at the bottom.

11. Circumstances

Example: The basic message is that all fleet managers need to evaluate their own circumstances and act accordingly.

12. Analysis

Example: These he felt were completely unverifiable through empirical demonstration and logical analysis.

13. Balloon

Example: The millionaire adventurer was the first person to circle the globe solo in a hot-air balloon.

14. Enemy

Example: It is an antispace, home of the enemy, a creature without a face or with the face of a beast.

15. Family

Example: Their marriage is a partnership that has remained strong despite family illness.

16. Freedom

Example: His efforts helped lead India to independence in 1947, and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom worldwide.

17. Album

Example: The album is divided into different tracks, but it is really one continuous song.

We hope that by reading this post you have built an understanding for schwa sound and how it is used for pronounciation.

Keep Learning with EnglishBix!

Leave a Comment