noun
also shwa ˈshw]ä, ]ȧ also ˈshf] or ˈshv] or shəˈw] or shəˈv] or ˈsw] or ˈsv] or ˈsf]\
( -s )
Etymology: German schwa, from Hebrew shĕwā'
1. : a faint indistinct vowel sound like that of e in quiet that is indicated in Hebrew by two perpendicular dots (as :) and in transliteration by ĕ or by a superior dot or small superior e
2.
a. : an unstressed mid-central vowel that is the usual sound of the first and last vowels of the English word America
b. : the symbol ə commonly used for this vowel and sometimes also for a similarly articulated stressed vowel (as in American English cut )