Here's why:
* Short vowel sound: The "a" in "pal" makes a short "a" sound, like the "a" in "cat" or "hat."
* Single vowel: The word has only one vowel, which is "a."
* Closed syllable: The vowel is followed by a consonant ("l"), creating a closed syllable.
Short vowel words typically have a closed syllable structure, meaning the vowel is followed by one or more consonants.