Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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We can pronounce the E in three different ways. One of them is the "schwa" which sounds like the Dutch short "U". This sound always occurs in unstressed syllables. For example at the end of these words:

- leven
- lezen
- bange
- vieze
- helder
- verjaardag (first and last syllable have a schwa)

Sometimes, other letters are also pronounced like a schwa, such as the i:

- gezellig

How's your schwa?? 😄