short a

Front

What is the short 'a' sound?

Back

The short 'a' sound is a vowel sound pronounced as /æ/, like in the words 'cat', 'bat', and 'hat'.

Front

Give an example of a word with a short 'a' sound.

Back

Examples include 'apple', 'sand', and 'man'.

Front

What is a vowel?

Back

A vowel is a letter that represents a speech sound made with the vocal tract open, typically 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u'.

Front

How do you identify a short 'a' sound in a word?

Back

You can identify a short 'a' sound by listening for the /æ/ sound, often found in words with a single 'a' followed by a consonant.

Front

What is the difference between short and long vowels?

Back

Short vowels are pronounced quickly and do not say their name (e.g., 'a' in 'cat'), while long vowels say their name (e.g., 'a' in 'cake').

Front

List three words that contain the short 'a' sound.

Back

1. Cat 2. Hat 3. Map

Front

What is a consonant?

Back

A consonant is a letter that represents a speech sound made by obstructing airflow, such as 'b', 'c', 'd', etc.

Front

How does the short 'a' sound affect the meaning of a word?

Back

The short 'a' sound can change the meaning of a word; for example, 'bat' (the animal) vs. 'bet' (to wager).

Front

What is a syllable?

Back

A syllable is a single, unbroken sound of a spoken (or written) word, typically containing a vowel sound.

Front

How many syllables are in the word 'banana'?

Back

The word 'banana' has three syllables: ba-na-na.