Vowels make several voiced sounds. The breve about the letter reminds us that we are going to now focus on this vowel’s short, closed sound: /ă/, /ă/, /ă/, ask.

If remembering the sound is tricky, you can help your brain by using your body more. Raise your hand as you say: /ă/, /ă/, /ă/, ask.

Depending on the speaker and use, a vowel can create a schwa sound. A schwa is a quick and relaxed vowel sound, typically in an unaccented syllable. There is not a standardized sound for a schwa, but the most common schwa sound for “A” sounds like the vowel sound in the last syllable of the word “human” or “hula”.