Short and Long A sounds

Short and Long A 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

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 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