Does were have a short e sound?

No, "were" does not have a short "e" sound. It has a long "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "see" or "tree".

Here's why:

* Spelling: The "e" in "were" is at the end of the word, and it's part of a vowel combination ("ere").

* Pronunciation: The "e" sound in "were" is pronounced as a single, long "e" sound, not the short "e" sound you find in words like "bed" or "pen".

Let me know if you have any other questions about sounds in words!