Long Vowels Say Their Names

Each vowel has a short sound and a long sound. The long sound is easy to remember because it says the letter's name. Long a says /ay/ as in 'cake'. Long e says /ee/ as in 'feet'. Long i says /eye/ as in 'kite'. Long o says /oh/ as in 'boat'.

Long u says /yoo/ as in 'cube'. Listen to 'hop' and 'hope'. In 'hop', o is short. In 'hope', o says its name. When a word doesn't sound right with a short vowel, try the long sound instead.

• 1Every vowel has a short and a long sound.
• 2A long vowel says its own name.
• 3If short doesn't work, try long.