weak vowel

Frequency: 5.02.1 per million words

An unstressed vowel, often a schwa.

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Examples (10)

  • In English, an unstressed syllable often contains a weak vowel, like the schwa.
  • The pronunciation of the weak vowel can vary slightly between different dialects.
  • Language learners sometimes find it challenging to perceive and produce weak vowels.
  • A weak vowel is typically shorter and less distinct than a strong one.
  • The word "banana" has two weak vowels, both represented by the schwa sound.
  • Understanding weak vowels is crucial for achieving a natural English rhythm.
  • Historically, some full vowels have reduced to weak vowels over time.
  • Phonetic transcription often uses specific symbols to denote a weak vowel.
  • The reduction to a weak vowel is a common feature of connected speech.
  • When teaching pronunciation, emphasize the difference between a strong and a weak vowel.