Mid central vowel

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Vowels

See also: IPA, Consonants

Edit - 2×

Front

Near-front

Central

Near-back

Back

Close

i • y

ɨ • ʉ

ɯ • u

ɪ • ʏ

• ʊ

e • ø

ɘ • ɵ

ɤ • o

ɛ • œ

ɜ • ɞ

ʌ • ɔ

a • ɶ

ɑ • ɒ

Near‑close

Close‑mid

Mid

Open‑mid

Near‑open

Open

Where symbols appear in pairs, the one to the right
represents a rounded vowel.

Sound sample (help·info)
IPA – number	322
IPA – text	ə
IPA – image
Entity	ə
X-SAMPA	`@`
Kirshenbaum	`@`

1 Mid central unrounded vowel
- 1.1 Features
- 1.2 Occurs in
2 Mid central rounded vowel
- 2.1 Features
3 Occurrence
4 See also

[edit] Mid central unrounded vowel

The mid central unrounded vowel is frequently written with the symbol [ə]. However, this symbol does not specifically represent an unrounded vowel, and is frequently used for most any unstressed obscure vowel. If precision is desired, the symbol for the close-mid central unrounded vowel may be used with a lowering diacritic, [ɘ̞].

[edit] Features

Its vowel height is mid, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a close vowel and an open vowel.
Its vowel backness is central, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.
Its vowel roundedness is unrounded, which means that the lips are not rounded.

[edit] Occurs in

Portuguese: European Portuguese açougue [ɘ̞ˈsoɡɯ̽]; Lisbon Portuguese seja [ˈsɘ̞ʒɘ̞]. (The pronunciation varies with dialect, and in Brazilian Portuguese it may be closer to a near open central unrounded vowel.)

[edit] Mid central rounded vowel

Languages may have a mid central rounded vowel (a rounded [ə]), distinct from both the close-mid and open-mid vowels. However, since no language is known to distinguish all three, there is no separate IPA symbol for the mid vowel, and the symbol [ɵ] for the close-mid central rounded vowel is generally used instead. If precision is desired, the lowering diacritic can be used: [ɵ̞].

[edit] Features

Its vowel height is mid, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a close vowel and an open vowel.
Its vowel backness is central, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.
Its vowel roundedness is rounded, which means that the lips are not rounded.