How to Pronounce Schwa

To pronounce "schwa", say SCHWA — one syllable, IPA /ʃwɑ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

schwa

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ʃwɑ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “schwa”

"schwa" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with guffaw and draw, if that helps it stick.

What does schwa mean?

noun

  1. An indeterminate central vowel sound as the "a" in "about", represented as /ə/ in IPA.
  2. The character ə.

Synonyms

natural vowelneutral vowel

Words that rhyme with schwa

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

guffawdrawwithdrawrawflawclawchutzpahlawpawblahjawgnaw

Related words

shwaepenthesisepenthetica-schwaschwischwar

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "schwa"?▾

"Schwa" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "schwa"?▾

The IPA transcription of "schwa" is /ʃwɑ/.

What does "schwa" mean?▾

Schwa: An indeterminate central vowel sound as the "a" in "about", represented as /ə/ in IPA.

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