shwa
[ shwah ]
/ ʃwɑ /
noun
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Definition for shwa (2 of 2)
schwa
or shwa
[ shwah ]
/ ʃwɑ /
noun Phonetics.
the mid-central, neutral vowel sound typically occurring in unstressed syllables in English, however spelled, as the sound of a in alone and sofa, e in system, i in easily, o in gallop, u in circus.
the phonetic symbol ə, used to represent this sound.
Origin of schwa
1890–95; < German < Hebrew shəwā, name of a diacritic marking schwa or no vowel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for shwa (1 of 2)
British Dictionary definitions for shwa (2 of 2)
schwa
shwa
/ (ʃwɑː) /
noun
a central vowel represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet by (ə). The sound occurs in unstressed syllables in English, as in around, mother, and sofa
the symbol (ə) used to represent this sound
Word Origin for schwa
C19: via German from Hebrew shewā, a diacritic indicating lack of a vowel sound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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