Here's why:
* Short vowels are typically followed by a single consonant. In "cabbage," the vowel "a" is followed by two consonants ("bb").
* Long vowels can be followed by a single consonant and a silent "e" at the end of the word, or by a consonant digraph (two consonants that make one sound). The "a" in "cabbage" makes a long "a" sound, similar to the "a" in "cake."
Therefore, "cabbage" is a long vowel word.