Here's why:
* "Happy" has two syllables: HAP-py. The first syllable ("HAP") has a long "a" sound, and the second syllable ("py") has a short "i" sound.
* Short sounds are typically associated with short vowels: The vowel sounds in words like "cat," "dog," and "run" are considered short sounds.
* Long sounds are typically associated with long vowels: The vowel sounds in words like "cake," "goat," and "tune" are considered long sounds.
So, while "happy" has both a long and a short vowel sound, the overall word does not have a short sound.