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’ in balloon
- ‘e’ in problem
- ‘i’ in family
- ‘o’ in bottom
- ‘u’ in support
- ‘y’ in analysis
Compound words
| catfish | bellman | pitfall |
| batman | catnip | bathtub |
| sunfish | shellfish | within |
| hatbox | nutshell | hubcap |
| bathmat | cannot | sunbath |
| upset | trashcan | catnap |
| suntan | subset | sunlit |
| cobweb | sunlit | backspin |
2-syllable words
| index | edit | vanish |
| mascot | cabin | jacket |
| tennis | solid | magnet |
| napkin | rocket | basket |
| publish | ticket | velvet |
| goblin | helmet | victim |
| picnic | locket | unless |
| cactus | packet | racket |
| attic | witness | happen |
| until | hectic | polish |
| public | enrich | tonsil |
| album | metric | hiccup |
| misfit | credit | plastic |
| limit | profit | insist |
| punish | comic | unfit |
| relish | radish | lavish |
| habit | banish | robin |
| finish | exam | expand |
| panic | picket | expect |
3-syllable words
| fantastic | volcanic | maximum |
| athletic | disinfect | enrichment |
| establish | accomplish | Washington |
| penmanship | enchanted | hesitant |
| consistent | abandon | classical |
| basketball | disgusted | minimum |
| inhabit | inhibit | capital |
| astonish | halibut | Thanksgiving |
| Atlantic | discontent | dependent |
| magnetic | punishment | sediment |
| congressman | snapdragon | diminish |
| craftsmanship | quintuplet | pelican |
| Wisconsin | inhabit | admonish |
4-syllable words
| establishment | accomplishment | academic |
| inconsistent | disinfectant | unexpected |
| continental | transatlantic | disenchanted |
| anesthetic |
Schwa activities for the classroom
These free printable resources for teachers are designed to help students build reading skills related to schwa. (From our sister project, Reading Universe )
Reprints
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