Here's why:
* The vowel sound in "lemon" is short. It sounds like the "e" in "bed" or "pen."
* Long vowel sounds are typically associated with a single vowel letter followed by a silent "e" at the end of a word, or a vowel digraph (two vowels together). Examples of words with long vowel sounds include "time," "cone," and "boat."
So, the "e" in "lemon" is a short vowel sound.