Long and short letter sounds

Long versus Short Vowels

Look at the words 'bug' and 'bugle. ' How are they similar? How are they different?

The words are similar because they both include the letters B, U, and G. The way the U sounds in each word is different. Why is this the case? Vowels can be used in words to make more than one sound. These sounds are described as 'long' and 'short.'

Long Vowels

A long vowel sounds like the name of the letter. For example, a 'long A' sounds like the letter A. A 'long E' sounds like the letter E. So when does a vowel make a 'long vowel' sound? This usually happens one of two ways:

The first way to make a long vowel sound is to put two vowels next to each other. When two vowels appear next to each other, the word usually makes a long sound of the first vowel. This is the case in words like 'bead,' 'seed,' 'mail,' and 'boat.' Notice how the word 'bead' makes the long E sound and the word 'mail' makes the long A sound.

The second way to make a long vowel sound is to place an E at the end of a word. Placing an E at the end of a word also creates a long vowel sound. This happens in words like 'bake,' 'bike,' 'mote,' 'mute.'

Notice how the word 'mute' makes the long 'U' sound and the word 'bike' makes the long 'I' sound.

Short Vowels

In many words, vowels do not make a long sound. They make a short vowel sound instead. How can you tell the difference? Finding short vowels is actually pretty easy: if it doesn't sound like any of the vowel letters, then you know it's a short vowel! Short vowels usually sound like the following:

• A = 'ah' as in 'apple'
• E = 'eh' as in 'egg'
• I = 'ih' as in 'insect'
• O = 'awe' as in 'bog'
• U = 'uh' as in 'tug'

Let's take another look at our example words from before: 'bug' and 'bugle.' Notice how the word 'bug' does not have the long U sound that the word 'bugle' does. The word 'bug' has a short vowel sound.

Using Long and Short Vowels Together

There are so many words in the English language that use more than one vowel. It's very common for words to have more than one long vowel sound, more than one short vowel sound, or both long and short vowel sounds together!

Examples of words with multiple long vowel sounds include:

• 'Betray,' which has a 'long E' and a 'long A' sound
• 'Behind,' which has a 'long E' and a 'long I'

Examples of words with multiple short vowels include:

• 'Coffin,' which includes the 'short O' and a 'short I'
• 'Backing,' which includes a 'short A' and a 'short I'
• 'Squishing,' which includes two 'short I' sounds

Examples of words that use long and short vowel sounds together are:

• 'Shaking,' which includes a 'long A' and a 'short I'
• 'Confide,' which includes a 'short O' and a 'long I'

Lesson Summary

The English alphabet includes five special letters called vowels. These letters are A, E, I, O, and U. Vowels can make both long and short sounds.

Long vowel sounds happen when the letter makes the actual sound of the letter; for example, when the letter A sounds like the letter A. Long vowels sounds are frequently made by placing two vowels together, like in the words 'maid' and 'feel.' Generally, these combinations make the sound of the first vowel listed in the word. For instance, 'maid' has a 'long A' sound instead of a 'long I' sound. Short vowel sounds happen when a letter in a word is not pronounced the way the letter sounds. For example, the letter 'U' in the word 'bug' makes an 'uh' sound.

Words can include a combination of more than one long vowel sound, like with the word 'betray'; more than one short vowel sound, like with the word 'sinking'; or a combination of long and short vowel sounds, like the word 'confide.'

Vowels at a Glance

• There are five vowels in the English language, and they can make long or short vowel sounds.
• Long vowel sounds sound like you are saying the letter itself.
• Short vowel sounds occur when the letter is not pronounced the way it sounds.
• Long vowel sounds are created by placing two vowels together or ending the word with an 'E.'
• Short vowel sounds happen when a vowel is placed next to a consonant.

Learning Outcomes

The video on long and short vowels could enhance your understanding as well as your ability to:

• List the vowels
• Understand what constitutes a long or short vowel sound
• Provide examples of words that feature long and short vowel sounds

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Long & Short Vowels: Sounds & Word Examples Review:

Vowel sounds in English can be pronounced as either 'short' or 'long.' Long vowels occur when a vowel 'sounds like its name'; that is, the full letter is pronounced in the word. For example in the word 'bake' the 'a' sounds like its name, in that it's pronounced as 'ay.' With a short vowel sound the opposite occurs; for example in the word 'pat' the 'a' is pronounced as 'ah,' so it does not 'sound like its name.' Often when a word has an 'e' on the end, the preceding vowel is pronounced as long, as in 'bake,' 'lake,' and 'pane.'

Practice:

In the following sentences determine whether the italicized word is pronounced as short or long, then write your answer.

1) The ice cubes are all over the floor

2) Uncle Pat made us all recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

3) The cake is delicious!

4) It's wonderful how many times you've won the championship.

5) Let's try to inflate the tires before we get to the garage.

6) The pigs are covered in mud, which makes them harder to catch.

7) Can we go to swim practice now?

8) The garland is strung across the ceiling.

9) Who knows the code for the gate?

10) I don't know if I'm willing to pay the price of fame.

Try Your Own:

Write two sentences in which you include at least one word with a short vowel sound and one with a long vowel sound.

Answer Key

1) Long
2) Long
3) Long
4) Short
5) Long
6) Short
7) Short
8) Short
9) Long
10) Long

For the 'Try Your Own' section, answers will vary. Below is a sample correct set of sentences:

The unicorn ('u', long) jumped ('u', short) over the fence.
My phone ('o', short) is the one with the red ('e', short) case.

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All About Short and Long Vowel Sounds for Preschoolers

Have you ever wondered or been asked by your child why ‘a’ in ‘cat’ and ‘cake’ sound different? Or why words like ‘cub’ and ‘cube’ are pronounced differently though their spellings are almost similar? Well, you are not alone!

The sounds of the letters of the English alphabet can vary quite a bit. In some cases, it can get tricky. Not all letters make the same sound in all words. Teaching preschoolers to read English can be challenging as the letters can make different sounds depending on how they are used. A case in point is the short and long vowel sounds for preschoolers. Read on to find out how your child can learn vowel sounds and recognize their differences.

Learning short and long vowel sounds- what are they?

Learning phonics sounds is getting to know all about all vowel and consonant sounds that make up the 26 letters of the English alphabet. Each of the 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) can make at least 2 sounds. For example, the vowel ‘a’ sounds different in ‘cat’ and ‘cake’. How we spell with vowels does not always determine the sound it makes. 

Each vowel makes two sounds- a short sound and a long sound. In some cases, they can be silent too! When a vowel makes the sound of a particular letter, then it is a short sound. However, when the vowel sounds like the letter’s name, then it makes a long sound. The sound the vowel makes depends on its position in the word and the letters that surround it. 

For example:- the ‘a’ in ‘fat’ and ‘e’ in ‘bed’ make short vowel sounds. While in ‘fate’ and ‘wheat’ they make the long vowel sounds. 

So, based on where and the vowel is placed in a word, its length and sound can change. When teaching preschoolers to read, you must help them understand the rules for what sound the vowels make in different instances. Yes, short and long vowel sounds for kids can be confusing at times. However, regular practice with them to recognize the distinctions will help.

Rules to bear in mind while learning short and long vowel sounds

Here are some basic rules to help you introduce short and long vowel words for preschoolers. Do remember that rules have exceptions too.

Rule No.

Vowel Position

Vowel Sound

Examples

1.

When a word has only one vowel and ends with a consonant

Vowel makes a short sound

‘a’ in ‘jam’

‘e’ in ‘west’

‘o’ in ‘hot’

‘i’ in ‘fish’

‘u’ in ‘cup’

2.

When a word has two vowels separated by two or more letters

The first vowel makes a short sound

as in ‘apple’

as in ‘octopus’

as in ‘basket’

as in ‘elephant’

as in ‘umbrella’

3.

When a word ends with the letter ‘e’ (magic ‘e’/ silent ‘e’)

The first vowel makes a long sound

‘cap’ becomes ‘cape’

‘kit’ becomes ‘kite’

‘tub’ becomes ‘tube’ 

as in ‘game’

as in ‘time’

4.

When a word has two vowels walking together the first one does 

the talking

The first vowel makes a long sound

The second vowel remains silent

as in ‘tie’

as in ‘boat’

as in ‘rain’

as in ‘value’

as in ‘feet’

Here's a long and short vowel sounds list: few more examples

Vowel

Short Vowel

Long Vowel

Aa

‘fat’, ‘map’, ‘hand’, ‘lamp’, ‘glass’

‘fate’, ‘pain’, ‘game’, ‘mail’, ‘whale’

Ee

‘egg’, ‘red’, ‘nest’, ‘bell’, ‘smell’

‘ear’, ‘sea’, ‘heal’, ‘weak’, ‘three’

Ii

‘pig’, ‘rib’, ‘fist’, ‘milk’, ‘swim’

‘hide’, ‘tile’, ‘lime’, ‘wipe’, ‘prize’

Oo

‘fox’, ‘hop’, ‘rod’, ‘drop’, ‘pond’

‘road’, ‘goat’, ‘bone’, ‘note’, ‘roast’

Uu

‘bud’, ‘gun’, ‘hug’, ‘dump’, ‘puff’

‘rule’, ‘true’, ‘dune’, ‘flute’, ‘fruit

Ways to teach short and long vowel soundsHere are some simple long and short vowel activities to introduce and practice the vowel sounds with your kids.

1. Fun with Songs

Learning the different vowel sounds can be more fun with songs. They are one of the best ways to teach short and long vowel sounds, as their catchy rhythms can help kids learn vowel sounds and remember them easily. Check out Kutuki’s ‘Short and Long Vowel Song’ . This song is great for kids learning short and long vowel sounds.

For more such fun and engaging songs, download the Kutuki kids learning app now!

2. Use hand motions or movements

Use simple gestures for every vowel. This can help kids associate the vowels with the motions and the sound they are making. In addition to working on their muscle memory, the kinesthetic activity makes learning more engaging for kids. For instance, have your child bend their knees when they hear a short vowel sound. For a long vowel sound, ask them to jump up and clap. 

3. Mark the vowels

It is useful to place a mark on top of the vowels. It indicates the vowel sound to be used. For instance, a short vowel sound is indicated by a curved symbol above the vowel-like ‘ă’ in ‘măn’. While a long vowel sound is represented by a small horizontal line above it, like ‘ā’ in ‘māin’. Such symbols will reinforce your kid’s ability to recognize and use the appropriate vowel sound effectively. 

4. Create Practice Sheets

Have your child practice the short and long vowel sounds using activity sheets. These help kids recognize, understand, and distinguish words with a long vowel sound from those with a short vowel sound.

Please Note: These worksheets are subject to copyright. They are exclusively available only for students enrolled in Kutuki’s Phonics Program. 

Kutuki’s Live Phonics Program has an extensive collection of such worksheets. For instance, one such activity has kids circle given pictures that match the vowel sound. While another, have them add magic ‘e’ to the given word and match the word with the right image.

These are just a few activities to help you get started with short and long vowel sounds for preschoolers. If your child is struggling to learn vowel sounds, do not stress or overwhelm the child about it. Remember, every child learns at their own pace!

If you are looking for expert guidance on phonics for your child, enroll in Kutuki’s Live Phonics Program today. 1000s of students have become active readers. Your child could too! The Kutuki kids learning app offers interactive stories, engaging rhymes, and games with attractive animations and illustrations to meet the learning needs of preschoolers

table, transcription and pronunciation, reading

Sounds that represent English letters - 44 English phonemes, which are divided into two categories: consonants and vowels. Since sounds cannot be written down, graphemes (letters or combinations of letters) are used to convey sounds in writing.

English alphabet

There are 26 letters in English. The standard English alphabet starts with a and ends with z.

When classifying alphabetic characters, they distinguish:

• 5 pure vowels: a, e, i, o, u;
• 19 pure consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z;
• 2 semivowels: y, w.

Learning the English alphabet requires knowledge of both the symbol representing each letter and the phonetic sounds associated with that letter. Learning English phonetics is difficult. Only a small number of letters have no exceptions in the main sound.

In most cases each letter has several phonemes. The letter B sometimes sounds like bat (bet) or does not sound, for example, in the words crumb (krum), dumb (dam). The letter C sounds like "k" for cat (ket) or "c" for ceiling (si:ling), or "tch" for church (tche:tch). And the list of exceptions is endless.

Vowels

Vowels represent the main category of phonemes in English speech. There are 20 vowels in spoken English. This discrepancy (in relation to literal characters) underlies the complexity of writing in English.

Additional vowels are used for short and long vowels. For sounds a and e - when the vowel accompanies the sound r. For o, the options are varied.

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Consonants

Alphabetical order

Transcription and stress

Phonetic transcriptions tell about the pronunciation of words. In English dictionaries, this is a necessary condition, since the spelling does not say how the word is pronounced.

Phonetic transcriptions are written in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), in which each English sound is assigned its own symbol. For example, the IPA-based phonetic transcription of the word home is /hoʊm/, the transcription of come is /kʌm/, despite the fact that the spelling of the words is similar (both end in –ome), but are transcribed with differences.

The rules do not fully cover aspects of stress in English words. The language is characterized by the presence of exceptions, and the English themselves make mistakes, especially in polysyllabic words.

But obviously some basic rules still apply:

1. In 80% of two-syllable nouns and adjectives, the stress falls on the first syllable: PURple, PREsent, CARton, TABle, CLEver, CHIna.
2. Most verbs and two-syllable prepositions have the stress on the second syllable: reLAX, beCIN, deCIde, betWEen.
3. In English there are many two-syllable words of the same spelling that will refer to nouns or verbs depending on whether the stress falls on the first or second syllable. For example, PREsent as a noun, but if the second syllable of preSENT is emphasized, it becomes a verb, or OBject and obJECT.
4. The stress falls on the syllable before the suffix if the "ending" begins with i or u: -ion, -ual, -uous, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc. . Examples: sufFICient, explaNAtion, residual, geoGRAPhic. The exceptions are -ist, -ism, -ize, and -ing.
5. Other suffixes do not affect word stress: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ism, etc. The stress falls on the first syllable. ORderly, Silently
6. Words ending in consonants or y are stressed on the first syllable: RARity, OPtimal.

Prefixes in two-syllable words are not stressed except in certain nouns or adjectives. Two-syllable nouns beginning with a prefix are studied individually.

English consonants

There are fewer consonants in the English alphabet than there are consonants. Therefore, digraphs like "ch", "sh", "th" and "zh" are used to expand the alphabet, and some letters and digraphs represent more than just one consonant. For example, the sound written "th" in this is transcribed as /ð/, and "th" in thin is /θ/.

English consonants are classified by their combination of functions:

1. Way of articulation (how air leaves the vocal tract).
2. Place of formation (which authorities are involved).
3. Phonation (how vocal chords vibrate).
4. Voicing start time (time of sounds formation), aspiration is part of the function.
5. Air flow mechanism (how air moves through the vocal tract).
6. Length (how long a consonant is blocked) is a feature of the English language, such as wholly /hoʊlli/ and holy /hoʊli/.
7. Articulation power.

In addition, there is a function "silent alveolar stop" , /t/ when the airflow mechanism is lowered.

According to the method of formation, consonants are divided into:

1. Proximants: j, w, r.
2. Nine fricative consonants: f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ,ʒ,h.
3. Lateral approximant: l.
4. Two affricative sounds: tʃ and dʒ.
5. Six plosives: p,b, t, d, k, g.
6. Nasal consonants: m, n, ŋ.

The sound - [x] - a voiceless fricative - is non-standard for the English language. Although in some original words, such as ugh (ugh!), Is an additional marker of irritation. In writing, the fricative is represented as "gh".

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Features of English consonants

A consonant combination is a set of two or three consonant letters that retain their original sound when pronounced. Such sets occur either at the beginning or at the end of a word. For example, the word brave, in which both "b" and "r" are pronounced, is the initial combination. In the word bank "-nk" is the final combination.

Classification:

1. Initial combinations are classified into sets with "l", "r", and "s". In "l", the combination ends with "l". An example would be the letters "bl" in the word blind. Similarly, the final sound in "r" in combination with "r" when "br" and "cr", for example, in the words bridge, crane. On the contrary, in "s" it starts with s, "st" and "sn" - stap, snail.
2. End combinations are grouped into sets with "s", "l" and "n": -st, -sk, -ld, -nd, -nk. Examples, first, desk, gold, sand, sink.

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Consonant digraphs refer to a set of consonants forming one sound. Some digraphs are both at the beginning and at the end of the word - "sh", "ch" and "th". There are also strict initial and final digraphs - "kn-" and "-ck".

Examples of digraphs:

Features of digraphs:

1. In some cases, consonants become unpronounceable: letter b following m; k before m; b and p before t. Examples of words, dumb, know, debt, receipt. The letter l is often silent, for example, in the words walk, could, palm, psalm, but in words its presence changes the sound of the previous vowel.
2. If a double consonant appears in a word, it is pronounced as one sound - ball or summer
3. In English, /h/ occurs as a one-letter grapheme (either silent or representing a voiceless glottal fricative consonant). There is also a letter in different digraphs, ch, gh, ph, sh, wh. The letter is silent in the words: ah, ohm, dahlia, cheetah, pooh-poohed, hour, honest, vehicle, herb (in American English, but pronounced in British). The initial /h/ is expressed in some function words (had, has, have, he, her, him, his).

English Consonant Pronunciation Chart

b bag [bæg], band [bænd], cab [kæb] bag, band, cab d d dad [dæd], did [dɪd], lady [leɪdɪ], odd [ɒd] dead, did, lady, od f f, ph, sometimes gh fable [feɪbl], fact [fækt], if [ɪf], off [ɒf], photo [foutou], glyph [glɪf] fable, fact, if, oof, foutow, glyph g g give [gɪv], flag [flæg] giv, flag h h hold [hould], ham [hæm] held, ham j usually represented by y but sometimes by other vowels yellow [jeləʊ], yes [jes], young [jʌŋ], neuron [njʊərɒn], cube [kju:b] ielou, ies, yang, n(b) yueron, k(b) yu:b - the sound j is similar to the vowel i:. k k, c, q, que, ck, sometimes ch cat [kæt], kill [kil], queen [kwi:n], skin [skɪn], thick [θɪk], chaos [keiɒs] cat, kil, qui:n, sik, keyos l l lane [lein], clip [klɪp], bell [bel], milk [mɪlk], sould [səʊld] lane, clip, bel, milk, sould - has two sound options: pure /l/ before a vowel, “darkened” /ɫ/ before a consonant or at the end of a word m m man [mæn], them [ðem], moon [mu:n] man, zem, mu:n n n nest [nest], sun [sʌn] nest, san ŋ ng ring [rɪŋ], sing [sɪŋ], finger [fɪŋgə]

[ŋ] is sometimes followed by the sound [g]. [ŋ] if "ng" is at the end of a word or a related word (sing, singer, thing), to "-ing", which translates verbs into participles or gerunds. [ŋg], if "ng" is not at the end of a word or in related words, also in comparative degrees (longer [lɔŋgə], longest).