* Short vowel sounds are the most common and basic sounds for vowels. In "cat", the "a" makes a short "a" sound, similar to the "a" in "hat".
* Long vowel sounds are usually represented by a vowel followed by a silent "e" at the end of the word (like "cake") or a single vowel with a special marking (like "ate").
Let me know if you'd like to learn more about short and long vowels!