Schwa Sound Words
Schwa Sound Words
Schwa Sound Words
Megawords 7
Unaccented i
The letter i in an unaccented middle syllable usually has the schwa sound (/ә /).1
In many List 34 words, a consonant or blend comes before the letter i to form
a syllable. Although this syllable ends in i, it does not have a long vowel sound like
most open syllables. The syllable is unaccented and the letter i has a schwa sound.
1 Read the syllables aloud to practice the schwa sound (/ә /).
ti vi ci
ni ri bi
di pli si
gi fi sti
In some List 34 words, the letter i is in an open syllable followed by the letters cal. In
these words, the letter i has a short i (/ĭ/) sound.
i ni
tri ti
1 The letter i has three main sounds in unaccented middle syllables. List 34 focuses on i pronounced /ә / (similar), List 35
discusses i pronounced /ē/ (radial), and List 36 covers i pronounced /y/ (million).
2 Megawords 7 • List 34
Practice Page 34b
Practice Page
1 Circle the syllables that contain unaccented i.
34b
an i mal pred i cate mon i tor
The suffix -ity is pronounced /ә tē/. The letter i has a schwa sound in this suffix.
The ending -ical, pronounced /ĭ kә l/, contains the suffixes -ic and -al. The letter i has
its short sound in this ending.
2 Circle the -ity or -ical in each word. Then pronounce the suffixes.
Review
The letter i in an unaccented middle syllable usually says / /.
Review
Unaccented i is often found in the middle syllable of multisyllabic words. It most often
1 Your teacher will dictate some syllables with i pronounced /ә /. Say the syllable as you write it.
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.
article uniform
compliment arbitrate
subsidy principle
officer hurricane
substitute cardigan
universe sensitive
vertical medical
solitude Florida
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capital dignity
hesitate accident
4 Megawords 7 • List 34
Practice Page 34d
Practice Page
The letter i is not the only vowel that has the schwa sound. Any unaccented
vowel can have it. Review Megawords 3, List 17, in which a, e, o, and u all have the
34d
schwa sound. When you write, spell the word with another vowel if one does not
look right.
1 Circle the unaccented middle syllable in each word. Then write the words under the
correct column.
sub sti tute rel a tive dif fi cult per ma nent
cus to mer el e phant por cu pine reg u lar
of fi cer com pro mise ben e fit sep a rate
en e my
o says /ә / u says /ә /
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