The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ə] → [e] Edit this Data

[e]→[ə]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5

Close-mid front unrounded vowel to Mid central vowel

The reduction of 'e' to 'ə' (schwa) is the ultimate fate of many unstressed vowels, moving toward a neutral, central position.

Phonetic Effects

Reduction, Centralization

Language Examples

Old English [e]→Modern English [ə] (in unstressed syllables)— Widespread reduction in the history of English.
Middle High German [e]→Modern German [ə] (final e)— Centralization of unstressed final vowels.

Related Transformations

More Germanic Shifts

Sources & References

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