Here's why:
* The vowel sound in "tulip" is a short "u" sound. It sounds like the "u" in "cup" or "sun".
* Long vowels are typically associated with a vowel sound that is pronounced the same way as the letter's name. For example, "ate" has a long "a" sound because it sounds like the letter "a" pronounced by itself.
Therefore, "tulip" is a short vowel word.