Long & short /a/ sound

Long & short vowel sounds

Short sound

If a word contains only one vowel, and that vowel appears in the middle of the word, the vowel is usually pronounced as a short vowel. This is especially true if the word is very short. Examples of short vowels in one-syllable words include the following:

Example Bat, let, fix, hop, but

When a short word with one vowel ends in s, l, or f, the end consonant is doubled, as in:

• Bill - Sell -Miss- Pass- Jiff -Cuff

If there are two vowels in a word, but the first vowel is followed by a double consonant, the vowel's sound is short, such as:

Matter- Cannon- Ribbon -Wobble -Bunny

If there are two vowels in a word and the vowels are separated by two or more letters, the first vowels is usually short, for example:

Lantern -Basket -Ticket -Bucket

Multiple Choice

"Cut" is a word with . .

• Long vowel sound "o"

• Short vowel sound "u"

• Long vowel sound "u"

• Short vowel sound "o"

Multiple Choice

Which word has a short “I” sound?

• take

• fine

• climb

• tin

Multiple Choice

Which word has a short “a” sound?

• cat

• stick

• cane

• butter

Multiple Choice

Which word has a short vowel sound?

• lake

• tune

• jump

• time

Multiple Choice

Which word below has the same vowel sound as strand?

• faithful

• dumpster

• national

• nature

The long vowel sound is the same as the name of the vowel itself. Follow these rules:

Long A sound is AY as in cake.

Long E sound is EE an in sheet.

Long I sound is AHY as in like.

Long O sound is OH as in bone.

Long U sound is YOO as in human or OO as in crude.

Long vowel sounds are often created when two vowels appear side by side in a syllable. When vowels work as a team to make a long vowel sound, the second vowel is silent. Examples are:

Rain- Seize - Boat - Toad- Heap

A double “e” also makes the long vowel sound:

Keep -Feel -Meek

The vowel “i” often makes a long sound in a one-syllable word if the vowel is followed by two consonants:

Blight -High -Mind -Wild -Pint

This rule does not apply when the “i” is followed by the consonants th, ch, or sh, as in:

Fish

A long vowel sound is created when a vowel is followed by a consonant and a silent “e” in a syllable, as in:

Stripe- Stake- Concede- Bite -Size

The long “u” sound can sound like yoo or oo, such as:

Cute -Flute -Lute -Prune -Fume -Perfume

Most often, the letter “o” will be pronounced as a long vowel sound when it appears in a one-syllable word and is followed by two consonants, as in these examples:

Most Post Roll Fold Sold

A few exceptions occur when the “o” appears in a single syllable word that ends in th or sh:

Posh

Multiple Choice

"Pain" is a word with . .

• Short vowel sound "e"

• Long vowel sound "e"

• Short vowel sound "a"

• Long vowel sound "a"

Multiple Choice

"Time" is a word with . .

• Short vowel sound "a"

• Long vowel sound "i

• Long vowel sound "a"

• Short vowel sound "i"

Multiple Choice

"Beat" is a word with ..

• Short vowel sound "a"

• Long vowel sound "a"

• Short vowel sound "e"

• Long vowel sound "e"

Multiple Choice

What sound is this?

• e - short vowel

• e - long vowel

Multiple Choice

What sound is this?

• e

• i

• a

Multiple Choice

Is this a short or long vowel?

• Short vowel

• Long vowel

Multiple Choice

Which word has the short “o” sound?

• vote

• goat

• hot

• cut

Multiple Choice

Which word has a short “e” sound?

• beat

• belt

• shave

• chip