Learning English

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Free worksheet and transcript
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Watch Episode 2
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/ə/ The schwa - the most common sound in English

The /ə/ sound is so special that it even has its own name – schwa. It's in lots of words you already know, like:

• doctor /dɑktə/
• elephant /eləfənt/
• balloon /bəluːn/

In fact, any letter representing a vowel sound can be pronounced as schwa. For example, the first vowel in the word 'connect' is a schwa sound but it's written with the letter 'o', and the second vowel in the word 'bonus' is a schwa sound but it’s written with the letter 'u'.

• connect /kənekt/
• bonus /bəʊnəs/

The schwa sound is especially common in small words that are usually unstressed in a sentence. For example:

• the /ðə/
• a /ə/
• and /ən/
• or /ə/
• for /fə/
• from /frəm/

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To do

Practise by using the worksheet on this page. The clip we heard came from an episode of The English We Speak – listen to the whole programme. 

Next

What's the difference between British and American English pronunciation? Watch Episode 2 here and learn about the /r/ sound.