* Short Vowel Sounds: These are typically found in words where the vowel is followed by a single consonant. Think of words like "cat," "bed," or "hop." The vowel sound is quick and short.
* "Trait" has a long "a" sound, similar to the "a" in "say" or "day." The "ai" combination often represents a long "a" sound in English.
Therefore, "trait" is not a short vowel word.