* Short vowels have a quick, sharp sound, like the "a" in "cat" or the "i" in "pig".
* Long vowels have a drawn-out sound, like the "a" in "cake" or the "e" in "tree".
In the word "basket":
* The vowel "a" has a short vowel sound, similar to the "a" in "cat".
Therefore, "basket" is considered a short vowel word.