What is a schwa?A schwa is a vowel sound in an unstressed syllable, where a vowel does not make its long or short vowel sound. It usually sounds like the short /u/ sound, but is softer and weaker. The schwa sound is the most common vowel sound (and the only speech sound with its own special name). Examples of a schwa:
- a: balloon
- e: problem
- i: family
- o: bottom
- u: support
- y: analysis
Compound words
- catfish
- batman
- sunfish
- hatbox
- bathmat
- upset
- suntan
- cobweb
- bathtub
- subset
- bellman
- catnip
- shellfish
- nutshell
- cannot
- trashcan
- gunship
- sunlit
- hotbed
- setup
- pitfall
- shotgun
- within
- hubcap
- sunbath
- bedpan
- catnap
- backspin
2-syllable words
- index
- mascot
- tennis
- napkin
- publish
- goblin
- picnic
- cactus
- combat
- attic
- until
- public
- nutmeg
- album
- misfit
- limit
- punish
- relish
- habit
- finish
- panic
- edit
- cabin
- solid
- rocket
- ticket
- helmet
- locket
- packet
- kidnap
- witness
- campus
- coffin
- hectic
- enrich
- metric
- talcum
- vomit
- credit
- profit
- comic
- radish
- banish
- exam
- picket
- vanish
- jacket
- magnet
- basket
- velvet
- victim
- candid
- unless
- racket
- happen
- polish
- tonsil
- punish
- hiccup
- plastic
- insist
- unfit
- Turkish
- lavish
- robin
- expand
- neglect
- valid
- conflict
- expect
3-syllable words
- fantastic
- athletic
- establish
- penmanship
- investment
- consistent
- misconduct
- basketball
- inhabit
- astonish
- Atlantic
- magnetic
- cosmetics
- imprison
- inexact
- congressman
- craftsmanship
- Wisconsin
- volcanic
- Cadillac
- columnist
- disinfect
- admonish
- accomplish
- enchanted
- abandon
- badminton
- subcontract
- disgusted
- inhibit
- halibut
- discontent
- punishment
- snapdragon
- quintuplet
- inhabit
- maximum
- enrichment
- Washington
- malignant
- hesitant
- classical
- helplessness
- minimum
- invalid
- capital
- Thanksgiving
- dependent
- sediment
- diminish
- pelican
4-syllable words
- establishment
- inconsistent
- calisthenics
- anesthetic
- accomplishment
- disinfectant
- transatlantic
- continental
- academic
- unexpected
- disenchanted
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