The English vowels can be tricky! Sometimes they say the name of their letter, and other times they don’t. When your English teacher talks about short and long vowels, you might naturally think Short and Long mean that you should say the sounds for a longer or shorter time. Actually, that’s not true. The difference between short and long vowels has nothing to do with how long or short we speak the sound. At least, not any more.

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of English vowels to understand their sounds, spellings, and the history behind their confusing names. I’ve also linked to some fun practice for you.

Why Are They Called Short and Long ? A Journey Through History

The names short vowels and long vowels come from Old English. In those days, long vowels were indeed pronounced for a longer time, like a stretched-out note in music. Short vowels were quicker and simpler, more like a short clap of the hands.

However, during a period that linguists call the Great Vowel Shift (around 1400–1700), English pronunciation changed dramatically. Long vowels stopped being drawn-out sounds and the timing difference disappeared. The long vowels shifted into the sounds we know today. They are shorter in duration than they used to be, and sound just like the names of the vowel letters A, E, I, O and U.

Even though we no longer say the long vowels for a longer time, the old names stuck! Spellings didn’t fully change to match these new sounds either. This is why English words often have unpredictable vowel spellings today.

For example, the ea spelling in head is pronounced as a short e sound, while the ea spelling in team is pronounced as a long e sound. The ui spelling in fruit is a long u sound, but the ui in build is a short i sound!

It can be confusing, I know! Hopefully the info and practice material below can help.

What Are the Short Vowels?

Short vowels are simple sounds that don’t sound like the vowel’s name. They often appear in stressed syllables, which are the parts of words we say more strongly.

Here are the short vowels, some of their most common spellings, and examples:

Short Vowel	IPA Symbol	Common Spellings	Example Words
Short A	/æ/	a, a-e, au	cat, have, laugh
Short E	/ɛ/	e, ea, u/ue, ai/ay, eo, ie, a	bed, bread, bury, guess, again, says, leopard, friend, many
Short I	/ɪ/	i, ui, y, u, ee / e, o	sit, guilty, gym, busy, been, women
Short O	/ɒ/ or /ɑ/	o, aw, ho, au, a, ou, ough, augh	cot, awesome, honor, author, wash, cough, bought, daughter
Short U	/ʌ/	u, o, o_e, io, ou	cup, son, love, station, rough

–> SHORT VOWEL PRACTICE <–

What Are the Long Vowels?

Although they can be spelled in (many!) different ways, long vowel sounds say the names of the vowel letters A, E, I, O and U.

These vowels appear especially when a word ends with a silent “e” (like home), or when two vowels work together (like team).

Here are the long vowels, and some of their most common spellings:

Long Vowel	IPA Symbol	Common Spellings	Example Words
Long A	/ei/	a, a_e, ai, ay, ei, eigh, ea, ey	paper, cake, train, play, vein, weight, great, they
Long E	/i/	e, ee, ea, e_e, y, i, ie, ei	email, green, beach, Pete, happy, singing, field, ceiling
Long I	/aɪ/	i, i-e, igh, y, ai	mind, time, night, sky, Thailand
Long O	/oʊ/	o, o-e, oa, ow, ough	cold, note, road, grow, although
Long U	/ju/ and /u/	u, eu, u-e, ue, ew, ui,	utility, neutral, cube, blue, few, fruit

–> LONG VOWEL PRACTICE <–

Tips for Spotting Long and Short Vowels in Words

English spelling and pronunciation are full of exceptions, and none of the tips below are without exceptions. However, understanding the most common spelling patterns for short and long vowels can help when you face new words.

1. Silent “E”: Look for a vowel followed by a consonant and then an “e” at the end of a word. In most cases, the “e” is silent and the first vowel is long.
   • Example: hop (short vowel) becomes hope (long vowel).
     
2. Vowel Teams: When two vowels are side by side, the first vowel is usually long, and the second one is usually silent.
   • Examples: boat (long “o”) or team (long “e”).
     
3. Single Vowels in Stressed Syllables: Short vowels are common in stressed syllables when only one vowel appears.
   • Examples: sun (short “u”), cat (short “a”) or little (short “I”)
     
4. Look for Common Spellings: Use the tables above to match spellings with the vowel sounds they often make. Knowing these patterns will help you predict pronunciation.

What About the Other Vowels in English?

In addition to the long and short vowel sounds, English also has a few vowel sounds that don’t fit into either category.

These include diphthongs, which are combinations of two vowel sounds blended together. Examples include the /ɔi/ in coin or the /aʊ/ in house.

There is also the schwa sound, represented by /ə/. The schwa occurs in unstressed syllables and sounds like a quick, relaxed “uh,” as in the second syllable of sofa. Every vowel letter, or combination of vowel letters, can make a schwa sound in an unstressed syllable. Even though it’s not a short or long vowel, the schwa is crucial for speaking and understanding natural English rhythm and intonation.

While the majority of English vowels fit into the long and short vowel categories, mastering these additional vowel sounds is just as important for achieving fluid English.

Take Your Pronunciation to the Next Level

Understanding vowels is just the beginning of mastering English pronunciation. As a linguist and experienced pronunciation coach, I specialize in helping my clients unlock the secrets of all the American English sounds. Whether you’re improving your accent, preparing for a presentation, or just want to feel more confident, I can guide you step by step.

Book a trial lesson with me on italki today, and let’s start your journey to clearer, more confident English!