Schwa Insertion Before Liquids

Many English speakers insert a schwa before liquids. The liquid is always syllable-final. Schwa insertion is especially common between diphthongs and liquids.

Schwa insertion is very common in words such as boil, choir, fire, flower, trail and vowel. In non-rhotic varieties of English, the words with word-final r end  with the schwa vowel. In certain varieties of English such as the English of the southern USA, schwa insertion is also common in words such as door, feel, pool and tour.

The rule of schwa insertion before liquids applies in many dialects of English. It is especially common with diphthongs. Though the schwa never occurs immediately before another vowel, it can occur immediately after another vowel. The rule is optional and can thus be called variable.