Practice schwa and unstressed vowels in 20 words
Hear relaxed vowels in about, banana, agenda, and other everyday words without losing the main stress.
Hear a light vowel beside a strong one
In about and above, the first vowel is schwa, written /ə/. The second syllable is stronger. Say each word slowly, keeping the first vowel relaxed rather than giving both syllables the same weight.
The same letter can represent different vowels
In banana (buh-NAN-uh), the middle a has the stressed vowel of cat, while the first and last a are schwa /ə/. In agenda (uh-JEN-duh), the stressed e sounds like the e in pen, while both a letters are schwa. Mark the main beat first, then compare the lighter syllables instead of pronouncing every written a alike.
Carry the rhythm into a phrase
Choose five words and read their practice phrases. Return to the word alone if its light vowel becomes too strong. Again and surprise have alternative dictionary vowels, so compare the common stress pattern as well as the part that varies.
Your listening list
20 wordsChoose a word to hear it in an APG video.
Test these pronunciations
Try 4 questions from this guide. Each answer includes an APG video, dictionary reference, and explanation.
Try this guide’s quiz →More words in this topic
26 wordsKeep listening with an APG video and a pronunciation tip for each word.
- abysmal
Stress the short “i” in the middle.
- affable
Stress the first syllable, as in “aff.”
- amiable
Start with the vowel in “aim.”
- apathy
Give “ap” the strongest beat.
- benevolent
Stress “nev” after a light opening.
- complacent
Stress “play” in the middle.
- copious
Start with a strong “co,” as in “coat.”
- courage
Start with the r-colored vowel in “her.”
- courteous
Let the ending stay light.
- cursory
Keep the main beat on “cur.”
- desperate
Stress DES.
- development
Make “vel” the strongest syllable.
- fastidious
Stress “tid,” the second syllable.
- favorite
Stress FAY.
- foreigner
Stress the first syllable.
- fortuitous
Stress TOO.
- gregarious
Give the second syllable the main beat.
- imminent
Give “im” the main beat.
- inevitable
Give “nev” the strongest beat.
- innocuous
Stress “noc,” then listen for “yoo.”
- malleable
Stress “mal” and lighten the rest.
- meticulous
Stress “tic” and keep the following “y” sound.
- nefarious
Give “far” the main beat here.
- relevant
Keep “rel” strong and the rest light.
- restaurant
Stress RES.
- twenty
TWEN-ee: the middle t can disappear.
Sources & classroom use
Each listening tip follows the IPA shown beside its word. Other dictionary pronunciations appear on the word page; individual speakers may vary.
Practice phrases were written for these exercises; quoted book passages remain in the separate, sourced book sections. These guides and practice notes are available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and retain the linked dictionary attributions. Videos and other reference material keep their own terms.
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