How Do You Spell SCHWAS?

Pronunciation: [ʃwˈɑːz] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "schwas" is interesting and confusing for some people. It is actually pronounced /ʃwɑːz/ which is represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The schwa sound (ə) is usually represented by the symbol /ə/, but in the word "schwas" it is represented by "a" because it is pronounced as "ah". The "s" is added to indicate the plural form of the word. Schwas are the unstressed vowel sound that is commonly used in English, like the "u" in "supply".

SCHWAS Meaning and Definition

1. Schwas are a linguistic phenomenon commonly found in English and other languages. In phonetics and phonology, a schwa refers to a specific mid-central vowel sound represented by the symbol /ə/. It is an unstressed and neutral vowel sound, frequently occurring in both stressed and unstressed syllables of words.

   The schwa sound in English is similar to the short "u" sound in words like "but" or the "a" sound in "sofa." It is considered the most frequent vowel sound in the English language, appearing in many function words and weak syllables. For example, in words like "about," "alone," or "together," the schwa sound is commonly used.

   Schwas are unique because they are unstressed and reduced in pronunciation. This means that they are often pronounced with a lower intensity, shorter duration, and less clear articulation compared to stressed vowels. Due to their reduced nature, the schwa sound can sometimes merge with other vowel sounds or even disappear completely in specific dialects or casual speech.

   Schwas can also be found in other languages, although the specific symbol used to represent it might differ. They play a significant role in phonetics, helping to explain the intricate sound patterns and linguistic structure found within words and sentences.

Top Common Misspellings for SCHWAS *

• shewas 50%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SCHWAS

• showas
• shwos
• schwatz
• schwarts
• sctias
• schmals
• schwss
• schwez
• shwaq
• schau
• Schal
• chwas
• scapas
• acawas
• xchuas
• scwah
• SCkAS
• schaas
• SCHWeR
• Schweasy
• suhcas
• schmah
• saawas
• Schwil
• schwaus
• shwase
• schwaks

Etymology of SCHWAS

The word "schwa" comes from the Hebrew letter "ש" (shin), which represents the sound /ʃ/ in Hebrew. It was first used by German linguists in the 19th century to refer to the mid-central vowel sound found in many languages, including English. The German word "schwach" meaning "weak" was associated with this vowel sound, and eventually, it was adapted into English as "schwa". The plural form "schwas" is used to refer to multiple instances of the schwa sound.

Similar spelling word for SCHWAS

• schweiss.