The 
symbol is called a “schwa” (pronounced 
w
). This neutral vowel sound is found in unstressed syllables. All five English vowels, as well as the semi-vowel Y, are sometimes pronounced as a schwa.
Click on the sample words to listen to the sound files. The letter pronounced as a schwa is in bold.
|
| schwa | vowel | examples | ||
|
a | about ( b t) |
capable (keIp bl) |
sofa (s  f) |
| e | enemy (  nmi) |
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| i | incredible (Ikr dbl) |
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| o | oppose ( pz) |
gallop (g  lp) |
||
| u | focus (f ks) |
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| y | vinyl (v  nl) |
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Note: when a word ends with (consonant + l + e), the sound of the (l+e) is actually a schwa + l sound (–l).
| schwa | examples |
|
noodle |
| uncle | |
| apple | |
| incredible | |
| puzzle |
Related lessons:
I have a very specific question about the schwa in words like noodle, uncle, puzzle, etc. When transcribing these words into IPA, should I put the schwa in at the end followed by an /l/, or should I omit the schwa and put an /l/ with a little dash underneath it? With syllabic consonants, can the schwa be omitted? Which was is more accurate?
I don’t know anything about “an /l/ with a little dash underneath it,” but in IPA, words like that omit the schwa, for example [noodl].