Definition & Meaning of "schwa"

What is "schwa"?

Schwa is a vowel sound represented by the symbol /ə/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It is the most common vowel sound in English and occurs in unstressed syllables, often sounding like a quick, neutral "uh." Schwa can be found in many words, such as the first syllable of "sofa" or the second syllable of "banana." Because schwa is an unstressed sound, it does not have a fixed pronunciation and can vary depending on the word's stress patterns. Understanding schwa is important for accurate pronunciation and for recognizing how vowel sounds can change in different contexts.