When a single vowel letter is in the end of a word (or syllable), it usually says its long sound (or its name), as in go and be. When two vowels go hand in hand in the same word (or syllable), the first vowel is usually long, and the second vowel is usually silent. e.g., bake makes the /ay/ sound (long a) and the e is silent; goal makes the /oh/ sound (long o) and the a is silent. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, such as with irregular vowels.
When there are two adjacent vowels in a word, the first one is long and the second one is silent. The first vowel is marked with a long line and second one is crossed out. Examples of this rule are in coat, ride, and read.
There is both a long and short sound to “oo”. The long sound appears as in the words boo, food, smooth, and moose.
In this video you can see many examples of words with long vowel sounds.
You can also find very useful word lists about long vowel sounds on the website of Vocabulary Spelling City.
Long o (long o) is the middle sound of the word home. (h sound, long o, m sound). The long o sound ends in a brief w sound. Listen again. (long o) home. Many of my students don't say this sound with the w sound at the end, and it can cause miscommunication. Meanwhile, the Long i sounds like (long i) and is the middle sound of the word bike. (b sound, long i, k sound). The long i is also a 2-sound vowel that end in a brief y sound. Listen again. (long i, bike).
-I will invite you to my birthday party.
-I saw the shadow of someone behind me and ran.
-My brother loves going to the restaurant to delight all the flavors which there are.
-Python is a kind of snake that has a powerful venom.
-Grandmother has cooked up a delicious meat pie.
-I was born in a remote village of Cuba called Placetas.
-We have already prepared the foam to wash dishes.
-I had breakfast milk and oatmeal yesterday.
-I like to eat both egg and bacon.
-My bed's pillow is very comfortable to rest my head.
Long u is the middle sound of the word cute. (k sound, long u, t sound). Notice that the long u sound (long u) begins with a very distinct y sound. Without that y sound, we only have (oo sound), which is a different sound that we will study later. Can you hear the different middle sounds in the words cute and rule. Cute is said with (long u) rule is said with the (oo sound) sound.
In the following text I have written, many words appear with long vowel sounds and I've highlighted some who have long u:
-My brother loves going to the restaurant to delight all the flavors which there are.
-Python is a kind of snake that has a powerful venom.
-Grandmother has cooked up a delicious meat pie.
-I was born in a remote village of Cuba called Placetas.
-We have already prepared the foam to wash dishes.
-I had breakfast milk and oatmeal yesterday.
-I like to eat both egg and bacon.
-My bed's pillow is very comfortable to rest my head.
Long u is the middle sound of the word cute. (k sound, long u, t sound). Notice that the long u sound (long u) begins with a very distinct y sound. Without that y sound, we only have (oo sound), which is a different sound that we will study later. Can you hear the different middle sounds in the words cute and rule. Cute is said with (long u) rule is said with the (oo sound) sound.
In the following text I have written, many words appear with long vowel sounds and I've highlighted some who have long u:
A few days ago, I took my little brother to buy a new backpack for school. Upon arrival, I realized he was enchanted by a backpack in particular which was made of a very cute tissue, where the main fruit of their favorite cartoon, appeared. Then I asked him if that was what he wanted to buy, but he quickly looked at me and said: - I don't want this one, I'm not a child anymore. But something in his eyes was crying that backpack , so I kept asking until he told me the cause, a little embarrassed. He told me that if he brought that bag so childish to school, he would be rejected by the other children who initiate the foolish rumor that at school there is a mama's boy who is still very small and watches cartoons on TV. I was shocked by the terrible concern but I had also gone through that stage of life when children are not kids but neither are adults, and I know how hard it can be. I explained that childhood is a very precious jewel that we all have but then many people lost. The truth is we must preserve this beautiful gift as long as we can, and kids from heart shouldn't give any excuse to others who are trying to refuse their truly existence and argue otherwise. What matters is the person inside you, and love that you are able to provide, beyond your age or your tastes.
Here's an article on how much vocabulary matters!
