A This letter is either /æ/ or /ə/ depending on its position in the word. If it's the only stressed vowel in the word, it's /æ/ E.g. cat, hat, fat, sat In a few words it's pronounced /ə/ what -> ɯhat (wət) mother -> maþor (ˈməðər) Here are examples where "a" is both /æ/ or /ə/ in a word: to animate (verb) -> ta animete /tə ˈænɪˌmeɪt/ animate (adjective) -> animat /ˈænɪmət/ animal (noun) /ˈænɪməl/ practical (adj) /ˈpræktɪkəl/ practicality (noun) -> practicalety /ˌpræktɪˈkæləɾi/