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What words have schwa?

It's impossible to list *all* words with the schwa sound because it's the most common vowel sound in English and appears in countless words.

However, I can give you some examples and explain how to recognize them:

What is a schwa?

The schwa (represented by the symbol ə) is a very short, unstressed vowel sound. It's like a very quick "uh" sound.

How to find schwa sounds:

* Unstressed syllables: Schwa sounds often occur in unstressed syllables of words. For example, in the word "about", the first syllable is unstressed and has the schwa sound.

* Weak vowels: Words with weak vowels often have the schwa sound. For example, in "the" and "of", the vowel sounds are very short and resemble the schwa.

* Common endings: Many common endings, like -ing, -er, -est, -tion, -sion, and -ment, often contain the schwa sound.

Examples of words with schwa:

* About (əˈbaʊt)

* Again (əˈɡɛn)

* The (ðə)

* Of (ʌv)

* Open (ˈoʊpən)

* Above (əˈbʌv)

* Sister (ˈsɪstər)

* Listen (ˈlɪsən)

* Nation (ˈneɪʃən)

* Moment (ˈmoʊmən)

Pro-tip: Listen carefully to the vowel sounds in words, especially unstressed syllables. If you hear a short, unstressed "uh" sound, there's a good chance you've found a schwa!

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