Two-to-Four-Syllable Words with Short Vowels and Schwa
This list can be used to help young readers practice multisyllable words with short vowel sounds and schwa sounds.
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
Reprints
Comments
Super
I want three chr words in three syllable words
Great list.
add words with schwa sound
These lists have been very helpful. With your permission I’d like to use samples to integrate them to my lesson plans.
Very insightful
Thank you for this list.
I will use the materials for remedial teaching of my Grade 2 pupils
This is very useful
I am in grade 6 and this really helps. Thank you!
Great resource.
Can you tell me what American dialect these are based on? Working with my Spaniard wife to develop a neutral American dialect. I see examples that don’t fit with a mid-west dialect. [Catfish, pitfall, - actually a lot- comic, profit, coffin, are pronounced as “short I.”
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